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Congressional Record—Senate S6105 June 20, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6105 the U.S. troop presence by year’s end to the I yield the floor. very distinguished military record of under 100,000, with most of the remaining f his own, and quite modest about it. But troops to return home by the end of 2007. at some point I would love to have a The eventual removal of coalition troops from Iraq streets will help the Iraqis, who CONCLUSION OF MORNING colloquy with the Senator on why now see foreign troops as occupiers rather BUSINESS Rhode Island—we are talking about than the liberators they were meant to be. It The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning sovereignty and the formation of gov- will remove psychological barriers and the business is closed. ernments—about why did they hold out reason that many Iraqis joined the so-called those many years before ratifying the resistance in the first place. The removal of f Constitution? At some point, could the troops will also allow the Iraqi government to engage with some of our neighbors that NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA- two of us have a colloquy about that? have to date been at the very least sympa- TION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007 Mr. REED. I would be happy to do that, in the future. thetic to the resistance because of what they The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under call the ‘‘coalition of occupation.’’ If the sec- I would like to highlight some of the the previous order, the Senate will re- tarian issue continues to cause conflict with aspects of the bill which I think are Iraq’s neighbors, this matter needs to be ad- sume consideration of S. 2766, which very important. I have had the privi- the clerk will report. dressed urgently and openly—not in the lege of working with Senator CORNYN guise of aversion to the presence of foreign The bill clerk read as follows: as the ranking member of the Emerg- troops. A bill (S. 2766), to authorize appropriations Moreover, the removal of foreign troops ing Threats Subcommittee. It has been for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of a real pleasure. He has conducted the will legitimize Iraq’s government in the eyes the Department of Defense, for military con- of its people. It has taken what some feel is struction, and for defense activities of the committee with great efficiency and an eternity to form a government of national Department of Energy, to prescribe per- great cooperation. The staff has been unity. This has not been an easy or enviable sonnel strengths for such fiscal year for the particularly helpful on a bipartisan task, but it represents a significant achieve- Armed Forces, and for other purposes. basis. ment, considering that many new ministers are working in partisan situations, often Pending: I am pleased to note that in the con- text of our deliberations, several im- with people with whom they share a history McCain amendment No. 4241, to name the of enmity and distrust. By its nature, the Act after John Warner, a Senator from Vir- portant measures were included in this government of national unity, because it is ginia. legislation. First, we have authorized working through consensus, could be per- Nelson of Florida/Menendez amendment an additional $400 million for science ceived to be weak. But, again, the drawdown No. 4265, to express the sense of Congress and technology programs. The original of foreign troops will strengthen our fledging that the Government of Iraq should not request sent by the Department of De- government to last the full four years it is grant amnesty to persons known to have at- fense was woefully inadequate. Science supposed to. tacked, killed, or wounded members of the While Iraq is trying to gain its independ- and technology is the key to our future Armed Forces of the United States. on the battlefield as we match the skill ence from the United States and the coali- McConnell amendment No. 4272, to com- tion, in terms of taking greater responsi- mend the Iraqi Government for affirming its and valor of our soldiers with the very bility for its actions, particularly in terms of positions of no amnesty for terrorists who best technology. We have to continue security, there are still some influential for- have attacked U.S. forces. this investment. I am pleased that our eign figures trying to spoon-feed our govern- Dorgan amendment No. 4292, to establish a legislation increases that item by $400 ment and take a very proactive role in many special committee of the Senate to inves- million. key decisions. Through this many provide tigate the awarding and carrying out of con- some benefits in the short term, in the long Also, the bill includes language to re- tracts to conduct activities in Afghanistan run it will only serve to make the Iraqi gov- quire a report to Congress on the test- and Iraq and to fight the war on terrorism. ernment a weaker one and eventually lead to ing policies and practices that should Kennedy amendment No. 4322, to amend a culture of dependency. Iraq has to grow out the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to pro- be pursued with respect to rapid acqui- of the shadow of the United States and the vide for an increase in the Federal minimum sition programs, spiral development coalition, take responsibility for its own de- wage. programs, quick reaction fielding pro- cisions, learn from its own mistakes, and Frist amendment No. 4323 (to Amendment grams, and the testing for safety and find Iraqi solutions to Iraqi problems, with No. 4322), to amend title 18, United States the knowledge that our friends and allies are survivability of deployed equipment. Code, to prohibit taking minors across State standing by with support and help should we One of the weaknesses, I believe, with need it. lines in circumvention of laws requiring the the present approach of the Depart- involvement of parents in abortion decisions. Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask ment of Defense is a failure to ade- unanimous consent that after Senator The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under quately test and evaluate, and I think the previous order, the Senator from REED is recognized—the chairman and I that failure has to be corrected and have talked about this—at that point, Rhode Island, Mr. REED, shall be recog- this report will, I hope, put attention the Dorgan amendment be the matter nized to speak for up to 20 minutes. on this issue and lead to positive re- before the Senate. I believe that the Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise this sults. Senator from Virginia and I have morning to discuss the fiscal year 2007 The legislation also urges the De- agreed that Senator DORGAN would be Defense authorization bill. I am glad it partment of Defense to identify and recognized for 10 minutes, to be fol- is on the floor. It is very important leg- nominate an individual to serve as the lowed then by the chairman for 5 min- islation, and it is arriving in a timely Director of Operational Test and Eval- utes, and the intention then would be manner where we can dispose of it uation. This position has been vacant to proceed to a rollcall vote. along with the other body and hope- since January 2005. It is a critical posi- Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, we are fully conclude in the next few weeks tion. This individual is the key inde- fully in concurrence as managers, but I with a finalized Defense authorization pendent personality in the Department would like to have the benefit of our bill. of Defense to look at the testing and leaders and the respective staff work- I would also note that this is Senator evaluation of new equipment. Without ing up a unanimous consent agreement WARNER’s last bill as chairman of the this position, the testing emphasis is precisely outlining that. Then, as I fur- Senate Armed Services Committee, woefully inadequate in the Department ther discussed with my colleague from and I personally want to commend him of Defense. Michigan, we had hopes that the mat- and thank him for his leadership, not As we put new systems into the mili- ter raised by the Senator from Florida, only as the chairman of this com- tary, we have to ensure that these sys- Mr. NELSON, in which he had an amend- mittee, but as a young sailor, a young tems are adequately tested. Without an ment relating to the issue of amnesty, marine, and a more mature Secretary individual with that responsibility and be addressed together with the side-by- of the Navy, and now a mature Member that position and posture within the side amendment by the Senator from of the United States Senate. So thank Department of Defense, we are not pro- Kentucky, Mr. MCCONNELL. So I hope you, Senator, for your leadership and viding the appropriate personality and that while hearing from our colleague friendship. mechanism to do the job. from Rhode Island addressing the Sen- Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I thank The bill also establishes the Joint ate, we can have a formalized UC my colleague from Rhode Island. I ap- Technology Office to coordinate all agreement. preciate his remarks, a Senator with a DOD hypersonics research programs in VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:27 Dec 27, 2006 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORDCX\T37X$J0E\S20JN6.REC S20JN6 mmaher on PROD1PC69 with CONG-REC-ONLINE S6106 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 20, 2006 conjunction with NASA.
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