Volume 153, No. 109 covering the 1st Session of the 110th Congress (2007 - 2008) was published by the Congressional Record.
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TEXT OF AMENDMENTS” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the Senate section on pages S8950-S8963 on July 10, 2007.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TEXT OF AMENDMENTS
SA 2026. Ms. KLOBUCHAR submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle G of title V, add the following:
SEC. 583. EXPANSION AND EXTENSION OF JOINT FAMILY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
(a) Locations.--Subsection (b) of section 675 of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Public Law 109-364; 120 Stat. 2273; 10 U.S.C. 1781 note) is amended--
(1) by striking ``not more than six''; and
(2) by striking the second sentence.
(b) Permanent Authority.--Such section is further amended by striking subsection (h).
______
SA 2027. Mr. PRYOR submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle C of title XV, add the following:
SEC. 1535. REST AND RECUPERATION LEAVE FOR MEMBERS OF THE
ARMED FORCES WHOSE PERIOD DEPLOYMENT IN
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM OR OPERATION ENDURING
FREEDOM IS INVOLUNTARILY EXTENDED TO 15 MONTHS.
(a) Additional Rest and Recuperation Leave.--A member of the Armed Forces whose period of deployment to Iraq under Operation Iraqi Freedom, or to Afghanistan under Operation Enduring Freedom, is involuntarily extended from 12 months to 15 months is entitled for the extension of such period of deployment to a period of rest and recuperation of an additional 5 days and round-trip transportation at Government expense from the location of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan, as the case may be, to the nearest port in the 48 contiguous States and return, or to an alternative destination and return at a cost not to exceed the cost of round-trip transportation from such location of duty to such nearest port.
(b) Construction.--Leave to which a member of the Armed Forces is entitled under subsection (a) is in addition to any other leave to which the member is entitled under any other provision of law.
______
SA 2028. Mr. BYRD submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of title XV, add the following:
SEC. 1535. CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR RAPID REDEPLOYMENT AND PLAN
FOR PHASED REDEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES FORCES
FROM IRAQ.
(a) Submittal of Plans to Congress.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to Congress a comprehensive, current plan for each of the following:
(1) The rapid redeployment of United States forces from Iraq.
(2) The phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq, with such redeployment to be completed not later than 180 days after its commencement.
(b) Plan Elements.--Each plan on redeployment under subsection (a) shall include elements as follows:
(1) A comprehensive description of the redeployment as currently proposed.
(2) A comprehensive diplomatic, political, and economic strategy that includes sustained engagement with Iraq's neighbors and the international community for the purpose of working collectively to bring stability to Iraq during and after the redeployment.
(3) Plans for United States basing rights in the region after the redeployment.
(4) Plans for United States military access to Iraq to protect United States citizens, personnel, and infrastructure in Iraq during and after the redeployment.
(5) Plans for United States and other allied and international assistance to the Government of Iraq during and after the redeployment to support its security needs
(including the training and equipping of Iraqi forces) and its economic and humanitarian needs.
(6) Plans for efforts to prevent a refugee flow from Iraq that would destabilize the region.
(7) An estimate of the costs of replacing United States military equipment left in Iraq after the redeployment, or otherwise depleted, including equipment of the regular components of the Armed Forces and equipment of the National Guard.
(8) An estimate of the costs of the redeployment and of any support of the Government of Iraq after the redeployment.
(c) Form.--Each plan on a redeployment under subsection (a) shall be submitted in both classified and unclassified form in order to permit the complete articulation of the plan.
SEC. 1536. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR THE SAFE AND ORDERLY
REDUCTION OF UNITED STATES FORCES IN IRAQ.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds appropriated or otherwise made available by any Act for the Department of Defense are available for obligation and expenditure to plan and execute a safe and orderly reduction of United States forces in Iraq.
______
SA 2029. Mr. GREGG (for himself and Mr. Roberts) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1070. PROTECTION OF CHILD CUSTODY ARRANGEMENTS FOR
PARENTS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES
DEPLOYED IN SUPPORT OF A CONTINGENCY OPERATION.
(a) Child Custody Protection.--Title II of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 521 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 208. CHILD CUSTODY PROTECTION.
``(a) Restriction on Change of Custody.--If a motion for change of custody of a child of a servicemember is filed while the servicemember is deployed in support of a contingency operation, no court may enter an order modifying or amending any previous judgment or order, or issue a new order, that changes the custody arrangement for that child that existed as of the date of the deployment of the servicemember, except that a court may enter a temporary custody order if there is clear and convincing evidence that it is in the best interest of the child.
``(b) Completion of Deployment.--In any preceding covered under subsection (a), a court shall require that, upon the return of the servicemember from deployment in support of a contingency operation, the custody order that was in effect immediately preceding the date of the deployment of the servicemember is reinstated.
``(c) Exclusion of Military Service From Determination of Child's Best Interest.--If a motion for the change of custody of the child of a servicemember who was deployed in support of a contingency operation is filed after the end of the deployment, no court may consider the absence of the servicemember by reason of that deployment in determining the best interest of the child.
``(d) Contingency Operation Defined.--In this section, the term `contingency operation' has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(13) of title 10, United States Code, except that the term may include such other deployments as the Secretary may prescribe.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to title II the following new item:
``208. Child custody protection.''.
______
SA 2030. Mr. GREGG (for himself and Mrs. Boxer) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle H of title V, add the following:
SEC. 594. LIMITATION ON SIMULTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT TO COMBAT
ZONES OF DUAL-MILITARY COUPLES WHO HAVE MINOR
DEPENDENTS.
In the case of a member of the Armed Forces with minor dependents who has a spouse who is also a member of the Armed Forces, and the spouse is deployed in an area for which imminent danger pay is authorized under section 310 of title 37, United States Code, the member may request a deferment of a deployment to such an area until the spouse returns from such deployment.
______
SA 2031. Mr. GREGG submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle G of title V, add the following:
SEC. 583. STUDY ON IMPROVING SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN,
INFANTS, AND TODDLERS OF MEMBERS OF THE
NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE UNDERGOING
DEPLOYMENT.
(a) Study Required.--
(1) Study.--The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility and advisability of entering into a contract or other agreement with a private sector entity having expertise in the health and well-being of families and children, infants, and toddlers in order to enhance and develop support services for children of members of the National Guard and Reserve who are deployed.
(2) Types of support services.--In conducting the study, the Secretary shall consider the need--
(A) to develop materials for parents and other caretakers of children of members of the National Guard and Reserve who are deployed to assist such parents and caretakers in responding to the adverse implications of such deployment
(and the death or injury of such members during such deployment) for such children, including the role such parents and caretakers can play in addressing and mitigating such implications;
(B) to develop programs and activities to increase awareness throughout the military and civilian communities of the adverse implications of such deployment (and the death or injury of such members during such deployment) for such children and their families and to increase collaboration within such communities to address and mitigate such implications;
(C) to develop training for early child care and education, mental health, health care, and family support professionals to enhance the awareness of such professionals of their role in assisting families in addressing and mitigating the adverse implications of such deployment (and the death or injury of such members during such deployment) for such children; and
(D) to conduct research on best practices for building psychological and emotional resiliency in such children in coping with the deployment of such members.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).
SEC. 584. STUDY ON ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM ON FAMILY-
TO-FAMILY SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES OF DEPLOYED
MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE.
(a) Study.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a study to evaluate the feasibility and advisability of establishing a pilot program on family-to-family support for families of deployed members of the National Guard and Reserve. The study shall include an assessment of the following:
(1) The effectiveness of a family-to-family support programs in--
(A) providing peer support for families of deployed members of the National Guard and Reserve;
(B) identifying and preventing family problems in such families;
(C) reducing adverse outcomes for children of such families, including poor academic performance, behavioral problems, stress, and anxiety; and
(D) improving family readiness and post-deployment transition for such families.
(2) The feasibility and advisability of utilizing spouses of members of the Armed Forces as counselors for families of deployed members of the National Guard and Reserve, in order to assist such families in coping throughout the deployment cycle.
(3) Best practices for training spouses of members of the Armed Forces to act as counselors for families of deployed members of the National Guard and Reserve.
(b) Report.--The Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study conducted under subsection (a) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
______
SA 2032. Mr. HAGEL (for himself, Mr. Levin, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Webb, and Mr. Reid) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle C of title XVI, add the following:
SEC. 1535. LIMITATION ON LENGTH OF DEPLOYMENTS FOR OPERATION
IRAQI FREEDOM.
(a) Limitation.--Commencing 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the deployment of a unit or individual of the Armed Forces for Operation Iraqi Freedom shall be limited as follows:
(1) In the case of a unit or individual of the Army
(including a unit or individual of the Army National Guard or the Army Reserve), the unit or individual may not be deployed, or continued or extended on deployment, for more than 12 consecutive months.
(2) In the case of a unit or individual of the Marine Corps
(including a unit or individual of the Marine Corps Reserve), the unit or individual may not be deployed, or continued or extended on deployment, for more than 7 consecutive months.
(b) Exception.--The limitation in subsection (a) shall not apply to designated key command headquarters personnel or other members of the Armed Forces who are required to maintain continuity of mission and situational awareness between rotating forces.
(c) Waiver Authority.--The President may waive the applicability of the limitation in subsection (a) in the event of a requirement for the use of military force in time of national emergency following consultation with the congressional defense committees.
(d) Deployment Defined.--In this section, the term
``deployment'' has the meaning given that term in subsection 991(b) of title 10, United States Code.
______
SA 2033. Mr. DODD submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle A of title I, add the following:
SEC. 106. NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE EQUIPMENT.
(a) In General.--Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2008 for National Guard and Reserve Equipment in the amount of $500,000,000, with the amount to be available for equipment reset for the Army National Guard.
(b) Offset.--The amount authorized to be appropriated by section 201(4) for research, development, test, and evaluation, Defense-wide activities, is hereby reduced by
$500,000,000, with the amount of the reduction allocated so that--
(1) the amount available for European missile defense is reduced by $225,000,000; and
(2) the amount available for the Airborne Laser is reduced by $275,000,000.
At the end of subtitle E of title III, add the following:
SEC. 358. ASSESSMENT OF THE DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE FOR
CRITICAL NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAMS.
(a) Report on Assessment.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report setting for the assessment of the Secretary of the capacity of the defense industrial base of the United States (including the industrial resource and critical technology production capacity of the defense industrial base) to achieve, during the five-year period beginning on October 1, 2007, each of the following:
(1) To address equipment shortfalls of the National Guard as identified by the National Guard Bureau.
(2) To meet the requirements of the Critical Items List of the commanders in chief of the unified and specified combatant commands and to produce other items within the inventory of weapon systems and defense equipment identified as critical under an assessment conducted pursuant to section 113(i) of title 10, United States Code, or by a Presidential determination as a result of a petition filed under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (19 U.S.C. 1862) in accordance with the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. App. 2077 et seq.).
(b) Recommendations.--If the assessment required by subsection (a) includes a determination that the industrial resource and critical technology production capacity of the defense industrial base of the United States cannot achieve the matters specified in that subsection, or that the authorities provided by the Defense Production Act of 1950 or other laws are insufficient to address the shortfalls and meet requirements described in that subsection, the report shall include such recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate for actions, including investments and modifications to the Defense Production Act of 1950, necessary to develop that capacity.
(c) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(1) the Committees on Armed Services and Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and
(2) the Committees on Armed Services and Financial Services of the House of Representatives.
______
SA 2034. Mrs. MURRAY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle G of title V, add the following:
SEC. 583. MILITARY FAMILY LEAVE.
(a) General Requirements for Leave.--
(1) Definitions.--Section 101 of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2611) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(14) Active duty.--The term `active duty' means duty under a call or order to active duty under a provision of law referred to in section 101(a)(13)(B) of title 10, United States Code.
``(15) Qualified member.--The term `qualified member' means a member of the reserve components on active duty for a period of more than 30 days.''.
(2) Entitlement to leave.--Section 102(a)(1) of such Act
(29 U.S.C. 2612(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(E) Because the spouse, son, daughter, or parent of the employee is a qualified member.''.
(3) Schedule.--Section 102(b)(1) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2612(b)(1)) is amended by inserting after the second sentence the following: ``Leave under subsection (a)(1)(E) may be taken intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule.''.
(4) Substitution of paid leave.--Section 102(d)(2)(A) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2612(d)(2)(A)) is amended by striking
``(A), (B), or (C)'' and inserting ``(A), (B), (C), or (E)''.
(5) Notice.--Section 102(e) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2612(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Notice for military family leave.--In any case in which an employee seeks leave under subsection (a)(1)(E), the employee shall provide such notice as is practicable.''.
(6) Certification.--Section 103 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2613) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Certification for Military Family Leave.--An employer may require that a request for leave under section 102(a)(1)(E) be supported by a certification issued at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may by regulation prescribe.''.
(b) Military Family Leave for Civil Service Employees.--
(1) Definitions.--Section 6381 of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
(A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting
``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) the term `active duty' means duty under a call or order to active duty under a provision of law referred to in section 101(a)(13)(B) of title 10, United States Code; and
``(8) the term `qualified member' means a member of the reserve components on active duty for a period of more than 30 days.''.
(2) Entitlement to leave.--Section 6382(a) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(E) Because the spouse, son, daughter, or parent of the employee is a qualified member.''.
(3) Schedule.--Section 6382(b)(1) of such title is amended by inserting after the second sentence the following: ``Leave under subsection (a)(1)(E) may be taken intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule.''.
(4) Substitution of paid leave.--Section 6382(d) of such title is amended by striking ``(A), (B), (C), or (D)'' and inserting ``(A), (B), (C), (D), or (E)''.
(5) Notice.--Section 6382(e) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(3) In any case in which an employee seeks leave under subsection (a)(1)(E), the employee shall provide such notice as is practicable.''.
(6) Certification.--Section 6383 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f) An employing agency may require that a request for leave under section 6382(a)(1)(E) be supported by a certification issued at such time and in such manner as the Office of Personnel Management may by regulation prescribe.''.
______
SA 2035. Mrs. MURRAY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle G of title V, add the following:
SEC. 583. CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY DEPENDENTS.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 658B of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858) is amended--
(1) by striking ``There is'' and inserting ``(a) in general.--There is'';
(2) in subsection (a), as so designated, by inserting
``(except section 658T)'' after ``this subchapter''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Child Care for Certain Military Dependents.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 658T
$200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.''.
(b) Child Care Assistance.--The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 658T. CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY DEPENDENTS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall make grants to eligible spouses to assist the spouses in paying for the cost of child care services provided to dependents by eligible child care providers. In making the grants, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible spouses of qualified members on active duty for a period of more than 6 months.
``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Active duty.--The term `active duty' means duty under a call or order to active duty under a provision of law referred to in section 101(a)(13)(B) of title 10, United States Code.
``(2) Active duty for a period of more than 30 days.--The term `active duty for a period of more than 30 days' has the meaning given the term in section 101(d)(2) of title 10, United States Code.
``(3) Dependent.--The term `dependent' means an individual who is--
``(A) a dependent, as defined in section 401 of title 37, United States Code, except that such term does not include a person described in paragraph (1) or (3) of subsection (a) of such section; and
``(B) an individual described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 658P(4).
``(4) Eligible spouse.--The term `eligible spouse' means a person who--
``(A) is a parent of one or more dependents of a qualified member; and
``(B) has the primary responsibility for the care of one or more such dependents.
``(5) Qualified member.--The term `qualified member' means a member of the reserve components of the Armed Forces on active duty for a period of more than 30 days.
``(c) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a spouse shall submit an application to the Secretary, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a description of the eligible child care provider who provides the child care services assisted through the grant.
``(d) Rule.--The provisions of this subchapter, other than section 658P and provisions referenced in section 658P, that apply to assistance provided under this subchapter shall not apply to assistance provided under this section.''.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--Section 658O of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858m) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``appropriated under this subchapter'' and inserting ``appropriated under section 658B(a)''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``appropriated under section 658B'' and inserting ``appropriated under section 658(a)''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``appropriated under section 658B'' and inserting ``appropriated under section 658(a)''.
______
SA 2036. Mrs. MURRAY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle F of title VI, add the following:
SEC. 683. PLAN FOR PARTICIPATION OF MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL
GUARD AND THE RESERVES IN THE BENEFITS DELIVERY
AT DISCHARGE PROGRAM.
(a) Plan To Maximize Participation.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to Congress a plan to maximize access to the benefits delivery at discharge program for members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who have been called or ordered to active duty at any time since September 11, 2001.
(b) Elements.--The plan submitted under subsection (a) shall include a description of efforts to ensure that services under the benefits delivery at discharge program are provided, to the maximum extent practicable--
(1) at each military installation;
(2) at each armory and military family support center of the National Guard;
(3) at each military medical care facility at which members of the Armed Forces are separated or discharged from the Armed Forces; and
(4) in the case of a member on the temporary disability retired list under section 1202 or 1205 of title 10, United States Code, who is being retired under another provision of such title or is being discharged, at a location reasonably convenient to the member.
(c) Benefits Delivery at Discharge Program Defined.--In this section, the term ``benefits delivery at discharge program'' means a program administered jointly by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide information and assistance on available benefits and other transition assistance to members of the Armed Forces who are separating from the Armed Forces, including assistance to obtain any disability benefits for which such members may be eligible.
______
SA 2037. Mr. COLEMAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle B of title IV, add the following:
SEC. 416. INCREASE IN AUTHORIZED VARIANCE IN END STRENGTHS
FOR ACTIVE DUTY AND NATIONAL GUARD PERSONNEL
PAYABLE FROM FUNDS FOR RESERVE PERSONNEL.
(a) Increase.--Section 115(f)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking ``2 percent'' and inserting ``3 percent''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2007, and shall apply with respect to fiscal years beginning on or after that date.
______
SA 2038. Mr. COLEMAN (for himself and Ms. Klobuchar) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle C of title III, add the following:
SEC. 325. CONVEYANCE OF A-12 BLACKBIRD AIRCRAFT TO THE
MINNESOTA AIR NATIONAL GUARD HISTORICAL
FOUNDATION.
(a) Conveyance Required.--The Secretary of the Air Force shall convey, without consideration, to the Minnesota Air National Guard Historical Foundation, Inc. (in this section referred to as the ``Foundation''), a non-profit entity located in the State of Minnesota, A-12 Blackbird aircraft with tail number 60-6931 that is under the jurisdiction of the National Museum of the United States Air Force and, as of January 1, 2007, was on loan to the Foundation and display with the 133rd Airlift Wing at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Minnesota.
(b) Condition.--The conveyance required by subsection (a) shall be subject to the requirement that Foundation utilize and display the aircraft described in that subsection for educational and other appropriate public purposes as jointly agreed upon by the Secretary and the Foundation before the conveyance.
(c) Relocation of Aircraft.--As part of the conveyance required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall relocate the aircraft described in that subsection to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and undertake any reassembly of the aircraft required as part of the conveyance and relocation. Any costs of the Secretary under this subsection shall be borne by the Secretary.
(d) Maintenance Support.--The Secretary may authorize the 133rd Airlift Wing to provide support to the Foundation for the maintenance of the aircraft relocated under subsection
(a) after its relocation under that subsection.
(e) Reversion of Aircraft.--
(1) Reversion.--In the event the Foundation ceases to exist, all right, title, and interest in and to the aircraft conveyed under subsection (a) shall revert to the United States, and the United States shall have immediate right of possession of the aircraft.
(2) Assumption of possession.--Possession under paragraph
(1) of the aircraft conveyed under subsection (a) shall be assumed by the 133rd Airlift Wing.
(f) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may require such additional terms and conditions in connection with the conveyance required by subsection (a) as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
______
SA 2039. Mr. COLEMAN (for himself and Ms. Klobuchar) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle B of title VI, add the following:
SEC. 625. PAYMENT OF ASSIGNMENT INCENTIVE PAY FOR RESERVE
MEMBERS SERVING IN COMBAT ZONE FOR MORE THAN 22
MONTHS.
(a) Payment.--The Secretary of a military department may pay assignment incentive pay under section 307a of title 37, United States Code, to a member of a reserve component under the jurisdiction of the Secretary for each month during the eligibility period of the member determined under subsection
(b) during which the member served for any portion of the month in a combat zone associated with Operating Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom in excess of 22 months of qualifying service.
(b) Eligibility Period.--The eligibility period for a member extends from January 1, 2005, through the end of the active duty service of the member in a combat zone associated with Operating Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom if the service on active duty during the member's most recent period of mobilization to active duty began before January 19, 2007.
(c) Amount of Payment.--The monthly rate of incentive pay payable to a member under this section is $1,000.
(d) Qualifying Service.--For purposes of this section, qualifying service includes cumulative mobilized service on active duty under sections 12301(d), 12302, and 12304 of title 10, United States Code, during the period beginning on January 1, 2003, through the end of the member's active duty service during the member's most recent period of mobilization to active duty beginning before January 19, 2007.
______
SA 2040. Mr. COLEMAN (for himself and Ms. Klobuchar) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle B of title IV, add the following:
SEC. 416. INCREASE IN AUTHORIZED VARIANCE IN END STRENGTHS
FOR ACTIVE DUTY AND NATIONAL GUARD PERSONNEL
PAYABLE FROM FUNDS FOR RESERVE PERSONNEL.
(a) Increase.--Section 115(f)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking ``2 percent'' and inserting ``3 percent''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2007, and shall apply with respect to fiscal years beginning on or after that date.
______
SA 2041. Mrs. CLINTON (for herself and Ms. Mikulski) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of title XII, add the following:
SEC. 1205. REPORTS ON PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF UNITED
STATES ENGAGEMENT AND POLICY TOWARD DARFUR.
(a) Requirement for Reports.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter until December 31, 2011, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the policy of the United States to address the crisis in Darfur, in eastern Chad, and in north-eastern Central African Republic, and on the contributions of the Department of Defense to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United Nations, and the African Union in support of the current African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) or any covered United Nations mission.
(b) Elements.--Each report under subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) An assessment of the extent to which the Government of Sudan is in compliance with its responsibilities and commitments under international law and as a member of the United Nations, including under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1706 (2006) and 1591 (2005), and a description of any violations of such responsibilities and commitments, including violations relating to the denial of or delay in facilitating access by AMIS and United Nations peacekeepers to conflict areas, failure to implement responsibilities to demobilize and disarm the Janjaweed militias, obstruction of the voluntary safe return of internally displaced persons and refugees, and degradation of security of and access to humanitarian supply routes.
(2) A comprehensive explanation of the policy of the United States to address the crisis in Darfur, including the activities of the Department of Defense in coordination with the Department of State.
(3) A comprehensive assessment of the impact of a no-fly zone for Darfur, including an assessment of the impact of such a no-fly zone on humanitarian efforts in Darfur and the region and a plan to minimize any negative impact on such humanitarian efforts during the implementation of such a no-fly zone.
(4) A description of contributions made by the Department of Defense in support of NATO assistance to AMIS and any covered United Nations mission.
(5) An assessment of the extent to which additional resources are necessary to meet the obligations of the United States to AMIS and any covered United Nations mission.
(c) Form and Availability of Reports.--
(1) Form.--Each report submitted under this section shall be in an unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
(2) Availability.--The unclassified portion of any report submitted under this section shall be made available to the public.
(d) Repeal of Superseded Report Requirement.--Section 1227 of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Public Law 109-364; 120 Stat. 2426) is repealed.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
(2) Covered united nations mission.--The term ``covered United Nations mission'' means any United Nations-African Union hybrid peacekeeping operation in Darfur, and any United Nations peacekeeping operating in Darfur, eastern Chad, or northern Central African Republic, that is deployed on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
______
SA 2042. Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Hagel, and Mrs. Feinstein) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. __. NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE ON GLOBAL CLIMATE
CHANGE.
(a) Requirement for National Intelligence Estimate.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence shall submit to Congress a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on the anticipated geopolitical effects of global climate change and the implications of such effects on the national security of the United States.
(2) Notice regarding submittal.--If the Director of National Intelligence determines that the National Intelligence Estimate required by paragraph (1) cannot be submitted by the date specified in that paragraph, the Director shall notify Congress and provide--
(A) the reasons that the National Intelligence Estimate cannot be submitted by such date; and
(B) an anticipated date for the submittal of the National Intelligence Estimate.
(3) Content.--The Director of National Intelligence shall prepare the National Intelligence Estimate required by this subsection using the mid-range projections of the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change--
(A) to assess the political, social, agricultural, and economic risks during the 30-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act posed by global climate change for countries or regions that are--
(i) of strategic economic or military importance to the United States and at risk of significant impact due to global climate change; or
(ii) at significant risk of large-scale humanitarian suffering with cross-border implications as predicted on the basis of the assessments;
(B) to assess other risks posed by global climate change, including increased conflict over resources or between ethnic groups, within countries or transnationally, increased displacement or forced migrations of vulnerable populations due to inundation or other causes, increased food insecurity, and increased risks to human health from infectious disease;
(C) to assess the capabilities of the countries or regions described in clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (A) to respond to adverse impacts caused by global climate change; and
(4) to make recommendations for further assessments of security consequences of global climate change that would improve national security planning.
(5) Coordination.--In preparing the National Intelligence Estimate under this subsection, the Director of National Intelligence shall consult with representatives of the scientific community, including atmospheric and climate studies, security studies, conflict studies, economic assessments, and environmental security studies, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, the Administrator of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of Energy, and the Secretary of Agriculture, and, if appropriate, multilateral institutions and allies of the United States that have conducted significant research on global climate change.
(b) Response to the National Intelligence Estimate.--
(1) Report by the secretary of defense.--Not later than 270 days after the date that the National Intelligence Estimate required by subsection (a) is submitted to Congress, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives a report on--
(A) the projected impact on the military installations and capabilities of the United States of the effects of global climate change as assessed in the National Intelligence Estimate;
(B) the projected impact on United States military operations of the effects of global climate change described in the National Intelligence Estimate; and
(C) recommended research and analysis needed to further assess the impacts on the military of global climate change.
(2) Sense of congress on the next quadrennial defense review.--It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense should address the findings of the National Intelligence Estimate required by subsection (a) regarding the impact of global climate change and potential implications of such impact on the Armed Forces and for the size, composition, and capabilities of Armed Forces in the next Quadrennial Defense Review.
(c) Authorization of Research.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense is authorized to carry out research on the impacts of global climate change on military operations, doctrine, organization, training, material, logistics, personnel, and facilities and the actions needed to address those impacts. Such research may include--
(A) the use of war gaming and other analytical exercises;
(B) analysis of the implications for United States defense capabilities of large-scale Arctic sea-ice melt and broader changes in Arctic climate;
(C) analysis of the implications for United States defense capabilities of abrupt climate change;
(D) analysis of the implications of the findings derived from the National Intelligence Estimate required under subsection (a) for United States defense capabilities;
(E) analysis of the strategic implications for United States defense capabilities of direct physical threats to the United States posed by extreme weather events such as hurricanes; and
(F) analysis of the existing policies of the Department of Defense to assess the adequacy of the Department's protections against climate risks to United States capabilities and military interests in foreign countries.
(2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date that the National Intelligence Estimate required by subsection (a) is submitted to Congress, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the research, war games, and other activities carried out pursuant to paragraph
(1).
(d) Assistance.--
(1) Agencies of the united states.--In order to produce the National Intelligence Estimate required by subsection (a), the Director of National Intelligence may request any appropriate assistance from any agency, department, or other entity of the United State Government and such agency, department, or other entity shall provide the assistance requested.
(2) Other entities.--In order to produce the National Intelligence Estimate required by subsection (a), the Director of National Intelligence may request any appropriate assistance from any other person or entity.
(3) Reimbursement.--The Director of National Intelligence is authorized to provide appropriate reimbursement to the head of an agency, department, or entity of the United States Government that provides support requested under paragraph
(1) or any other person or entity that provides assistance requested under paragraph (2).
(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Director of National Intelligence such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection.
(e) Form.--The National Intelligence Estimate required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, to the extent consistent with the protection of intelligence sources and methods, and include unclassified key judgments of the National Intelligence Estimate. The National Intelligence Estimate may include a classified annex.
(f) Duplication.--If the Director of National Intelligence determines that a National Intelligence Estimate has been prepared that includes the content required by subsection (a) prior to the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence shall not be required to produce the National Intelligence Estimate required by such subsection.
______
SA 2043. Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Obama, Mr. Menendez, and Mr. Biden) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle D of title V, add the following:
SEC. 555. NURSE MATTERS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall provide for the carrying out of each of the programs described in subsections (b) through (f), with each of the military departments to carry out at least one such program.
(b) Service of Nurse Officers as Faculty in Exchange for Commitment to Additional Service in the Armed Forces.--
(1) In general.--One of the programs required under this section shall be a program in which covered commissioned officers with a graduate degree in nursing or a related field who are in the nurse corps of the Armed Force concerned serve a tour of duty of two years as a full-time faculty member of an accredited school of nursing.
(2) Covered officers.--A commissioned officer of the nurse corps of the Armed Forces described in this paragraph is a nurse officer on active duty who has served for more than nine years on active duty in the Armed Forces as an officer of the nurse corps at the time of the commencement of the tour of duty described in paragraph (1).
(3) Benefits and privileges.--An officer serving on the faculty of an accredited school or nursing under this subsection shall be accorded all the benefits, privileges, and responsibilities (other than compensation and compensation-related benefits) of any other comparably situated individual serving a full-time faculty member of such school.
(4) Agreement for additional service.--Each officer who serves a tour of duty on the faculty of a school of nursing under this subsection shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary to serve upon the completion of such tour of duty for a period of four years for such tour of duty as a member of the nurse corps of the Armed Force concerned. Any service agreed to by an officer under this paragraph is in addition to any other service required of the officer under law.
(c) Service of Nurse Officers as Faculty in Exchange for Scholarships for Nurse Officer Candidates.--
(1) In general.--One of the programs required under this section shall be a program in which commissioned officers with a graduate degree in nursing or a related field who are in the nurse corps of the Armed Force concerned serve while on active duty a tour of duty of two years as a full-time faculty member of an accredited school of nursing.
(2) Benefits and privileges.--An officer serving on the faculty of an accredited school of nursing under this subsection shall be accorded all the benefits, privileges, and responsibilities (other than compensation and compensation-related benefits) of any other comparably situated individual serving as a full-time faculty member of such school.
(3) Scholarships for nurse officer candidates.--(A) Each accredited school of nursing at which an officer serves on the faculty under this subsection shall provide scholarships to individuals undertaking an educational program at such school leading to a degree in nursing who agree, upon completion of such program, to accept a commission as an officer in the nurse corps of the Armed Forces.
(B) The amount of funds made available for scholarships by an accredited school of nursing under subparagraph (A) for each officer serving on the faculty of that school under this subsection shall be not less than the amount equal to an entry-level full-time faculty member of that school for each year that such officer so serves on the faculty of that school.
(C) The total number of scholarships provided by an accredited school of nursing under subparagraph (A) for each officer serving on the faculty of that school under this subsection shall be such number as the Secretary of Defense shall specify for purposes of this subsection.
(d) Scholarships for Certain Nurse Officers for Education as Nurses.--
(1) In general.--One of the programs required under this section shall be a program in which the Secretary provides scholarships to commissioned officers of the nurse corps of the Armed Force concerned described in paragraph (2) who enter into an agreement described in paragraph (4) for the participation of such officers in an educational program of an accredited school of nursing leading to a graduate degree in nursing.
(2) Covered nurse officers.--A commissioned officer of the nurse corps of the Armed Forces described in this paragraph is a nurse officer who has served not less than 20 years on active duty in the Armed Forces and is otherwise eligible for retirement from the Armed Forces.
(3) Scope of scholarships.--Amounts in a scholarship provided a nurse officer under this subsection may be utilized by the officer to pay the costs of tuition, fees, and other educational expenses of the officer in participating in an educational program described in paragraph (1).
(4) Agreement.--An agreement of a nurse officer described in this paragraph is the agreement of the officer--
(A) to participate in an educational program described in paragraph (1); and
(B) upon graduation from such educational program--
(i) to serve not less than two years as a full-time faculty member of an accredited school of nursing; and
(ii) to undertake such activities as the Secretary considers appropriate to encourage current and prospective nurses to pursue service in the nurse corps of the Armed Forces.
(e) Transition Assistance for Retiring Nurse Officers Qualified as Faculty.--
(1) In general.--One of the programs required under this section shall be a program in which the Secretary provides to commissioned officers of the nurse corps of the Armed Force concerned described in paragraph (2) the assistance described in paragraph (3) to assist such officers in obtaining and fulfilling positions as full-time faculty members of an accredited school of nursing after retirement from the Armed Forces.
(2) Covered nurse officers.--A commissioned officer of the nurse corps of the Armed Forces described in this paragraph is a nurse officer who--
(A) has served an aggregate of at least 20 years on active duty or in reserve active status in the Armed Forces;
(B) is eligible for retirement from the Armed Forces; and
(C) possesses a doctoral or master degree in nursing or a related field which qualifies the nurse officer to discharge the position of nurse instructor at an accredited school of nursing.
(3) Assistance.--The assistance described in this paragraph is assistance as follows:
(A) Career placement assistance.
(B) Continuing education.
(C) Stipends (in an amount specified by the Secretary).
(4) Agreement.--A nurse officer provided assistance under this subsection shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary to serve as a full-time faculty member of an accredited school of nursing for such period as the Secretary shall provide in the agreement.
(f) Benefits for Retired Nurse Officers Accepting Appointment as Faculty.--
(1) In general.--One of the programs required under this section shall be a program in which the Secretary provides to any individual described in paragraph (2) the benefits specified in paragraph (3).
(2) Covered individuals.--An individual described in this paragraph is an individual who--
(A) is retired from the Armed Forces after service as a commissioned officer in the nurse corps of the Armed Forces;
(B) holds a graduate degree in nursing; and
(C) serves as a full-time faculty member of an accredited school of nursing.
(3) Benefits.--The benefits specified in this paragraph shall include the following:
(A) Payment of retired or retirement pay without reduction based on receipt of pay or other compensation from the institution of higher education concerned.
(B) Payment by the institution of higher education concerned of a salary and other compensation to which other similarly situated faculty members of the institution of higher education would be entitled.
(C) If the amount of pay and other compensation payable by the institution of higher education concerned for service as an associate full-time faculty member is less than the basic pay to which the individual was entitled immediately before retirement from the Armed Forces, payment of an amount equal to the difference between such basic pay and such payment and other compensation.
(g) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``school of nursing'' and ``accredited'' have the meaning given those terms in section 801 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296).
______
SA 2044. Mr. WARNER (for himself and Mr. Webb) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of section 131, add the following:
(c) Shipbuilder Teaming Requirements.--Paragraphs (2)(A),
(3), and (4) of section 121(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (Public Law 105-85; 111 Stat. 1648) shall apply in the exercise of authority under subsection (a) to enter into multiyear contracts described in that subsection.
F_____
SA 2045. Mr. WARNER (for himself and Mr. Webb) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Strike section 1215 and insert the following:
SEC. 1215. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON MILITARY ASSISTANCE AND THE
RETURN TO DEMOCRATIC RULE IN THAILAND.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Thailand is an important strategic ally and economic partner of the United States.
(2) The United States strongly supports the prompt restoration of democratic rule in Thailand.
(3) While it is in the interest of the United States to have a robust defense relationship with Thailand, it is appropriate that the United States has curtailed certain military-to-military cooperation and assistance programs until democratic rule has been restored in Thailand.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) Thailand should continue on the path to restore democratic rule as quickly as possible, and should hold free and fair national elections as soon as possible and no later than December 2007; and
(2) once Thailand has fully reestablished democratic rule, it will be both possible and desirable for the United States to reinstate a full program of military assistance to the Government of Thailand, including programs such as International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) that were appropriately suspended following the military coup in Thailand in September 2006.
______
SA 2046. Mrs. CLINTON (for herself, Mr. Coleman, and Mr. Sanders) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table, as follows:
At the end subtitle F of title VI, add the following new section:
SEC. 683. POSTAL BENEFITS PROGRAM FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES SERVING IN IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN.
(a) Availability of Postal Benefits.--The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the United States Postal Service, shall provide for a program under which postal benefits are provided to qualified individuals in accordance with this section.
(b) Qualified Individual.--In this section, the term
``qualified individual'' means a member of the Armed Forces on active duty (as defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code) who--
(1) is serving in Iraq or Afghanistan; or
(2) is hospitalized at a facility under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense as a result of a disease or injury incurred as a result of service in Iraq or Afghanistan.
(c) Postal Benefits Described.--
(1) Vouchers.--The postal benefits provided under the program shall consist of such coupons or other similar evidence of credit, whether in printed, electronic, or other format (in this section referred to as a ``voucher''), as the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Postal Service, shall determine, which entitle the bearer or user to make qualified mailings free of postage.
(2) Qualified mailing.--In this section, the term
``qualified mailing'' means the mailing of a single mail piece which--
(A) is first-class mail (including any sound- or video-recorded communication) not exceeding 13 ounces in weight and having the character of personal correspondence or parcel post not exceeding 10 pounds in weight;
(B) is sent from within an area served by a United States post office; and
(C) is addressed to a qualified individual.
(3) Coordination rule.--Postal benefits under the program are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any reduced rates of postage or other similar benefits which might otherwise be available by or under law, including any rates of postage resulting from the application of section 3401(b) of title 39, United States Code.
(d) Number of Vouchers.--A member of the Armed Forces shall be eligible for one voucher for every second month in which the member is a qualified individual.
(e) Limitations on Use; Duration.--A voucher may not be used--
(1) for more than a single qualified mailing; or
(2) after the earlier of--
(A) the expiration date of the voucher, as designated by the Secretary of Defense; or
(B) the end of the one-year period beginning on the date on which the regulations prescribed under subsection (f) take effect.
(f) Regulations.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense (in consultation with the Postal Service) shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the program, including--
(1) procedures by which vouchers will be provided or made available in timely manner to qualified individuals; and
(2) procedures to ensure that the number of vouchers provided or made available with respect to any qualified individual complies with subsection (d).
(g) Transfers to Postal Service.--
(1) Based on estimates.--The Secretary of Defense shall transfer to the Postal Service, out of amounts available to carry out the program and in advance of each calendar quarter during which postal benefits may be used under the program, an amount equal to the amount of postal benefits that the Secretary estimates will be used during such quarter, reduced or increased (as the case may be) by any amounts by which the Secretary finds that a determination under this section for a prior quarter was greater than or less than the amount finally determined for such quarter.
(2) Based on final determination.--A final determination of the amount necessary to correct any previous determination under this section, and any transfer of amounts between the Postal Service and the Department of Defense based on that final determination, shall be made not later than six months after the end of the one-year period referred to in subsection (e)(2)(B).
(3) Consultation required.--All estimates and determinations under this subsection of the amount of postal benefits under the program used in any period shall be made by the Secretary of Defense in consultation with the Postal Service.
(h) Funding.--
(1) Additional amount for military personnel.--The aggregate amount authorized to be appropriated by section 421 for military personnel is hereby increased by $10,000,000.
(2) Availability.--Of the amount authorized to be appropriated by section 421 for military personnel, as increased by paragraph (1), $10,000,000 may be available for postal benefits as provided in this section.
(3) Offset.--The aggregate amount authorized to be appropriated by titles I, II, III, IV (other than the amounts authorized to be appropriated and made available by this subsection), XV, XXI, XXII, XXIII, XXIV, XXV, XXVI, XXVII, and XXVIII is hereby reduced by $10,000,000, with the amount of the reduction to be allocated among such titles in a manner determined appropriate by the Secretary of Defense.
______
SA 2047. Mrs. CLINTON submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table, as follows:
At the end of subtitle D of title VI, add the following:
SEC. 656. ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE FOR TRANSPORTATION
FOR SURVIVORS OF DECEASED MEMBERS TO ATTEND THE
MEMBER'S BURIAL CEREMONIES.
Section 411f(c) of title 37, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
``(D) Any child of the parent or parents of the deceased member who is under the age of 18 years if such child is attending the burial ceremony of the memorial service with the parent or parents and would otherwise be left unaccompanied by the parent or parents.
``(E) The person who directs the disposition of the remains of the deceased member under section 1482(c) of title 10, or, in the case of a deceased member whose remains are commingled and buried in a common grave in a national cemetery, the person who have been designated under such section to direct the disposition of the remains if individual identification had been made.''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``may be provided to--'' and all that follows through the end and inserting ``may be provided to up to two additional persons closely related to the deceased member who are selected by the person referred to in paragraph (1)(E).''.
______
SA 2048. Mr. HAGEL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of title XV, add the following:
SEC. 1535. MODIFICATIONS TO UNITED STATES POLICY IN IRAQ.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The President and Congress must now focus on developing a viable new strategy in Iraq that the American people can support and that protects and advances United States interests in the Middle East.
(2) Political accommodation in Iraq can only be achieved within a constructive regional framework supported by the international community. The role of the regional and international community must be enhanced.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the primary objective of United States policy on Iraq should be to help achieve Iraqi political accommodation that will begin to move Iraq toward political reconciliation;
(2) the United States Government must refocus its policy, leadership, and resources on directly helping the people of Iraq establish an inclusive political framework to begin to defuse the violence in that country; and
(3) United States policy on Iraq should be one element of a new strategic direction for the United States in the Middle East region that includes--
(A) engaging countries in the Middle East to develop a sustainable and constructive comprehensive regional security framework;
(B) making a renewed commitment to addressing the Arab-Israeli conflict.
(c) Appointment of International Mediator in Iraq.--The President shall direct the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States at the United Nations to seek the appointment of an international mediator in Iraq, under the auspices of the United Nations Security Council, who has the authority of the international community to engage political, religious, ethnic, and tribal leaders in Iraq in an inclusive political process.
(d) Phased Redeployment of United States Forces From Iraq.--
(1) Transition of mission.--The Secretary of Defense shall promptly transition the mission of United States forces in Iraq to the limited purposes set forth in paragraph (2).
(2) Commencement of phased redeployment.--The President shall commence the phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, with the goal of redeploying, by March 31, 2008, all United States combat forces from Iraq except for a limited number that are essential for the following purposes:
(A) Protecting diplomatic facilities and citizens of the United States, including members of the Armed Forces.
(B) Serving in roles consistent with customary diplomatic positions.
(C) Training and equipping members of the Iraqi Security Forces.
(D) Engaging in targeted actions against members of al-Qaeda and allied parties and other terrorist organizations with global reach.
(3) Waiver authority.--
(A) In general.--The President may waive the redeployment requirements of this subsection if he submits to Congress a written certification setting forth a detailed justification for the waiver. The certification shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
(B) Duration.--A waiver under subparagraph (A) shall be effective for 90 days beginning on the date of the submittal of the certification under such subparagraph.
(C) Renewal.--A waiver under subparagraph (A) may be renewed if, before the end of the expiration of the waiver under subparagraph (B), the President submits to Congress a certification meeting the requirements of subparagraph (A). Any waiver so renewed may be further renewed as provided in this subparagraph.
(e) Reporting Requirement.--The President shall include in each report required under section 1227(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (50 U.S.C. 1541 note) the following:
(1) A comprehensive update on the diplomatic and political measures undertaken by the President pursuant to this section.
(2) A description of the progress made in transitioning the mission of the United States forces in Iraq and implementing the phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq as required under subsection (d).
______
SA 2049. Mr. CHAMBLISS (for himself and Mr. Pryor) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
On page 155, beginning on line 18, strike ``the date of the enactment of this subsection'' and insert ``September 11, 2001''.
______
SA 2050. Mr. CHAMBLISS (for himself and Mr. Pryor) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of title VII, add the following:
SEC. 703. REPORT ON PATIENT SATISFACTION SURVEYS.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than March 1, 2008, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the ongoing patient satisfaction surveys taking place in Department of Defense inpatient and outpatient settings at military treatment facilities.
(b) Content.--The report required under subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) The types of survey questions asked.
(2) How frequently the surveying is conducted.
(3) How often the results are analyzed and reported back to the treatment facilities.
(4) To whom survey feedback is made available.
(5) How best practices are incorporated for quality improvement.
(6) An analysis of the impact and effect of inpatient and outpatient surveys quality improvement and a comparison of patient satisfaction survey programs with patient satisfaction survey programs used by other public and private health care systems and organizations.
(c) Use of Report Information.--The Secretary shall use information in the report as the basis for a plan for improvements in patient satisfaction surveys at health care at military treatment facilities in order to ensure the provision of high quality healthcare and hospital services in such facilities.
______
SA 2051. Mr. COLEMAN (for himself and Ms. Klobuchar) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle C of title V, add the following:
SEC. 536. SATISFACTION OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE AND
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS BY MEMBERS OF THE
NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE ON ACTIVE DUTY.
(a) Additional Period Before Re-Training of Nurse Aides Required Under Medicare and Medicaid Programs.--
(1) Medicare.--Section 1819(b)(5)(D) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i-3(b)(5)(D)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``For purposes of'' and inserting the following:
``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), for purposes of''; and
(B) by inserting after clause (i), as added by subparagraph
(A), the following new clause:
``(ii) Exception for active duty military service.--For purposes of clause (i), if, since an individual's most recent completion of a training and competency evaluation program, the individual was ordered to active duty in the Armed Forces or was engaged in employment outside the United States essential to the prosecution of a war or to national defense, the 24-consecutive-month period described in clause (i) shall begin on the date on which the individual completes the active duty service or employment. The preceding sentence shall not apply to an individual who had already reached such 24-consecutive-month period on the date on which such individual was ordered to such active duty service or was engaged in such employment.''.
(2) Medicaid.--Section 1919(b)(5)(D) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r(b)(5)(D)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``For purposes of'' and inserting the following:
``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), for purposes of''; and
(B) by inserting after clause (i), as added by subparagraph
(A), the following new clause:
``(ii) Exception for active duty military service.--For purposes of clause (i), if, since an individual's most recent completion of a training and competency evaluation program, the individual was ordered to active duty in the Armed Forces or was engaged in employment outside the United States essential to the prosecution of a war or to national defense, the 24-consecutive-month period described in clause (i) shall begin on the date on which the individual completes the active duty service or employment. The preceding sentence shall not apply to an individual who had already reached such 24-consecutive-month period on the date on which such individual was ordered to such active duty service or was engaged in such employment.''.
(b) Report on Relief From Requirements for National Guard and Reserve on Long-Term Active Duty.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report setting forth recommendations for such legislative action as the Secretary considers appropriate (including amendments to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 501 et seq.)) to provide for the exemption or tolling of professional or other licensure or certification requirements for the conduct or practice of a profession, trade, or occupation with respect to members of the National Guard and Reserve who are on active duty in the Armed Forces for an extended period of time.
______
SA 2052. Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mr. Specter) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Strike section 824.
______
SA 2053. Mr. CONRAD (for himself, Mr. Dorgan, Ms. Landrieu, and Mr. Vitter) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table, as follows:
At the end of subtitle D of title I, add the following:
SEC. 143. MODIFICATION OF LIMITATIONS ON RETIREMENT OF B-52
BOMBER AIRCRAFT.
(a) Maintenance of Primary and Backup Inventory of Aircraft.--Subsection (a)(1) of section 131 of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Public Law 109-364; 120 Stat. 2111) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph
(C):
``(C) shall maintain in a common configuration a primary aircraft inventory of not less than 63 such aircraft and a backup aircraft inventory of not less than 11 such aircraft.''.
(b) Notice of Retirement.--Subsection (b)(1) of such section is amended by striking ``until'' and all that follows and inserting the following: ``until the later of the following:
``(A) The date that is 45 days after the date on which the Secretary of the Air Force submits the report specified in paragraph (2).
``(B) The date of the completion by the Secretary of written notification of such retirement to the congressional defense committees in accordance with established procedures.''.
______
SA 2054. Mr. LIEBERMAN (for himself and Mrs. Boxer) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table, as follows:
At the end of subtitle D of title X, add the following:
SEC. 703. REVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND TREATMENT FOR
FEMALE MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND FOR
FEMALE VETERANS.
(a) Comprehensive Review.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly conduct a comprehensive review of--
(1) the need for mental health treatment and services for female members of the Armed Forces and for female veterans;
(2) the efficacy and adequacy of existing mental health treatment programs and services for female members of the Armed Forces; and
(3) the efficacy and adequacy of existing mental health treatment programs and services for female veterans.
(b) Elements.--The review required by subsection (a) shall include an assessment of the following:
(1) The need for mental health outreach, prevention, and treatment services specifically for female members of the Armed Forces.
(2) The need for mental health outreach, prevention, and treatment services specifically for female veterans.
(3) The access to and efficacy of existing mental health outreach, prevention, and treatment services and programs
(including substance abuse programs) for female veterans who served in a combat zone.
(4) The access to and efficacy of services and treatment for female members of the Armed Forces who experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
(5) The access to and efficacy of services and treatment for female veterans who experience post-traumatic stress disorder.
(6) The availability of services and treatment for female members of the Armed Forces who experienced sexual assault or abuse.
(7) The availability of services and treatment for female veterans who experienced sexual assault or abuse.
(8) The access to and need for treatment facilities focusing on the mental health care needs of female members of the Armed Forces.
(9) The access to and need for treatment facilities focusing on the mental health care needs of female veterans.
(10) The need for further clinical research on the unique needs of female veterans who served in a combat zone.
______
SA 2055. Mr. LIEBERMAN (for himself and Mrs. Boxer) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table, as follows:
At the end of subtitle C of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1031. PROVISION OF CONTACT INFORMATION OF SEPARATING
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES BY SECRETARY OF
DEFENSE TO STATE VETERANS AGENCIES.
Upon the separation of a member of the Armed Forces from the Armed Forces, the Secretary of Defense shall, upon the consent of the member, provide the address and other appropriate contact information of the member to the State veterans agency in the State in which the veteran will first reside after separation.
______
SA 2056. Mr. HARKIN (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Kerry, Ms. Klobuchar, and Ms. Cantwell) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle G of title V, add the following:
SEC. 583. FAMILY SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES UNDERGOING DEPLOYMENT, INCLUDING
NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE PERSONNEL.
(a) Family Support.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall enhance and improve current programs of the Department of Defense to provide family support for families of deployed members of the Armed Forces, including deployed members of the National Guard and Reserve, in order to improve the assistance available for families of such members before, during, and after their deployment cycle.
(2) Specific enhancements.--In enhancing and improving programs under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall enhance and improve the availability of assistance to families of members of the Armed Forces, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, including assistance in--
(A) preparing and updating family care plans;
(B) securing information on health care and mental health care benefits and services and on other community resources;
(C) providing referrals for--
(i) crisis services; and
(ii) marriage counseling and family counseling; and
(D) financial counseling.
(b) Post-Deployment Assistance for Spouses and Parents of Returning Members.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall provide spouses and parents of members of the Armed Forces, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, who are returning from deployment assistance in--
(A) understanding issues that arise in the readjustment of such members--
(i) for members of the National Guard and Reserve, to civilian life; and
(ii) for members of the regular components of the Armed Forces, to military life in a non-combat environment;
(B) identifying signs and symptoms of mental health conditions; and
(C) encouraging such members and their families in seeking assistance for such conditions.
(2) Information on available resources.--In providing assistance under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide information on local resources for mental health services, family counseling services, or other appropriate services, including services available from both military providers of such services and community-based providers of such services.
(3) Timing.--The Secretary shall provide resources under paragraph (1) to a member of the Armed Forces approximately six months after the date of the return of such member from deployment.
SEC. 584. SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, INFANTS, AND
TODDLERS OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES
UNDERGOING DEPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NATIONAL GUARD
AND RESERVE PERSONNEL.
(a) Enhancement of Support Services for Children.--The Secretary of Defense shall--
(1) provide information to parents and other caretakers of children, including infants and toddlers, who are deployed members of the Armed Forces to assist such parents and caretakers in responding to the adverse implications of such deployment (and the death or injury of such members during such deployment) for such children, including the role such parents and caretakers can play in addressing and mitigating such implications;
(2) develop programs and activities to increase awareness throughout the military and civilian communities of the potential adverse implications of such deployment (including the death or injury of such members during such deployment) for such children and their families and to increase collaboration within such communities to address and mitigate such implications;
(3) develop training for early childhood education, child care, mental health, health care, and family support professionals to enhance the awareness of such professionals of their role in assisting families in addressing and mitigating the potential adverse implications of such deployment (including the death or injury of such members during such deployment) for such children; and
(4) conduct or sponsor research on best practices for building psychological and emotional resiliency in such children in coping with the deployment of such members.
(b) Reports.--
(1) Reports required.--At the end of the 18-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, and at the end of the 36-month period beginning on that date, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the services provided under subsection (a).
(2) Elements.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) An assessment of the extent to which outreach to parents and other caretakers of children, or infants and toddlers, as applicable, of members of the Armed Forces was effective in reaching such parents and caretakers and in mitigating any adverse effects of the deployment of such members on such children or infants and toddlers.
(B) An assessment of the effectiveness of training materials for education, mental health, health, and family support professionals in increasing awareness of their role in assisting families in addressing and mitigating the adverse effects on children, or infants and toddlers, of the deployment of deployed members of the Armed Forces, including National Guard and Reserve personnel.
(C) A description of best practices identified for building psychological and emotional resiliency in children, or infants and toddlers, in coping with the deployment of deployed members of the Armed Forces, including National Guard and Reserve personnel.
(D) A plan for dissemination throughout the military departments of the most effective practices for outreach, training, and building psychological and emotional resiliency in the children of deployed members.
______
SA 2057. Mr. FEINGOLD submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table, as follows:
At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1070. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF CONTRACTS FOR
CELLULAR TELEPHONE SERVICE FOR SERVICEMEMBERS
UNDERGOING DEPLOYMENT OUTSIDE THE UNITED
STATES.
(a) In General.--Title III of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 531 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 305 the following new section:
``SEC. 305A. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF CONTRACTS FOR
CELLULAR TELEPHONE SERVICE.
``(a) In General.--A servicemember who receives orders to deploy outside of the continental United States for not less than 90 days may request the termination or suspension of any contract for cellular telephone service entered into by the servicemember before that date if the servicemember's ability to satisfy the contract or to utilize the service will be materially affected by that period of deployment. The request shall include a copy of the servicemember's military orders.
``(b) Relief.--Upon receiving the request of a servicemember under subsection (a), the cellular telephone service contractor concerned shall, at the election of the contractor--
``(1) grant the requested relief without imposition of an early termination fee for termination of the contract or a reactivation fee for suspension of the contract; or
``(2) permit the servicemember to suspend the contract at no charge until the end of the deployment without requiring, whether as a condition of suspension or otherwise, that the contract be extended.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for that Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 305 the following new item:
``Sec. 305A. Termination or suspension of contracts for cellular telephone service.''.
______
SA 2058. Mr. HAGEL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table, as follows:
At the end of title XV, add the following:
SEC. 1535. MODIFICATIONS TO UNITED STATES POLICY IN IRAQ.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The President and Congress must now focus on developing a viable new strategy in Iraq that the American people can support and that protects and advances United States interests in the Middle East.
(2) Political accommodation in Iraq can only be achieved within a constructive regional framework supported by the international community. The role of the regional and international community must be enhanced.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the primary objective of United States policy on Iraq should be to help achieve Iraqi political accommodation that will begin to move Iraq toward political reconciliation;
(2) the United States Government must refocus its policy, leadership, and resources on directly helping the people of Iraq establish an inclusive political framework to begin to defuse the violence in that country; and
(3) United States policy on Iraq should be one element of a new strategic direction for the United States in the Middle East region that includes--
(A) engaging countries in the Middle East to develop a sustainable and constructive comprehensive regional security framework; and
(B) making a renewed commitment to addressing the Arab-Israeli conflict.
(c) Appointment of International Mediator in Iraq.--The President shall direct the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States at the United Nations to seek the appointment of an international mediator in Iraq, under the auspices of the United Nations Security Council, who has the authority of the international community to engage political, religious, ethnic, and tribal leaders in Iraq in an inclusive political process.
(d) Phased Redeployment of United States Forces From Iraq.--
(1) Transition of mission.--The Secretary of Defense shall promptly transition the mission of United States forces in Iraq to the limited purposes set forth in paragraph (2).
(2) Commencement of phased redeployment.--The President shall commence the phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, with the goal of redeploying, by March 31, 2008, all United States combat forces from Iraq except for a limited number that are essential for the following purposes:
(A) Protecting diplomatic facilities and citizens of the United States, including members of the Armed Forces.
(B) Serving in roles consistent with customary diplomatic positions.
(C) Training and equipping members of the Iraqi Security Forces.
(D) Engaging in targeted actions against members of al-Qaeda and allied parties and other terrorist organizations with global reach.
(E) Protecting the territorial integrity of Iraq.
(3) Waiver authority.--
(A) In general.--The President may waive the redeployment requirements of this subsection if he submits to Congress a written certification setting forth a detailed justification for the waiver. The certification shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
(B) Duration.--A waiver under subparagraph (A) shall be effective for 90 days beginning on the date of the submittal of the certification under such subparagraph.
(C) Renewal.--A waiver under subparagraph (A) may be renewed if, before the end of the expiration of the waiver under subparagraph (B), the President submits to Congress a certification meeting the requirements of subparagraph (A). Any waiver so renewed may be further renewed as provided in this subparagraph.
(e) Reporting Requirement.--The President shall include in each report required under section 1227(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (50 U.S.C. 1541 note) the following:
(1) A comprehensive update on the diplomatic and political measures undertaken by the President pursuant to this section.
(2) A description of the progress made in transitioning the mission of the United States forces in Iraq and implementing the phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq as required under subsection (d).
______
SA 2059. Mr. CORNYN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle H of title V, add the following:
SEC. 594. PROHIBITION ON AVAILABILITY OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO
LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES THAT PREVENT ACCESS
TO JROTC ON CAMPUSES OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
(a) Prohibition.--
(1) In general.--Chapter 49 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 983 the following new section:
``Sec. 983a. Local educational agencies that prevent JROTC access on secondary school campuses
``(a) Denial of Funds for Preventing JROTC Access to Campus.--No funds described in subsection (c) may be provided by contract, grant, or cooperative agreement to a local educational agency (or any subelement of that agency) if the Secretary of Defense determines that that agency (or any subelement of that agency) has a policy or practice
(regardless of whether implemented) that either prohibits, or in effect prevents--
``(1) the Secretary of a military department from maintaining, establishing or operating a unit of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (in accordance with chapter 102 of this title and other applicable Federal law) at any secondary school served by that agency; or
``(2) a student at any secondary school served by that agency from enrolling in a unit of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps at another secondary school.
``(b) Exception.--The limitation in subsection (a) shall not apply to any local educational agency (or any subelement of that agency) if the Secretary of Defense determines that the agency (and each secondary school served by that agency) has ceased the policy or practice described in that subsection (a).
``(c) Covered Funds.--The limitation in subsection (a) shall apply to the following:
``(1) Any funds made available to the Department of Defense.
``(2) Any funds made available for any department or agency for which regular appropriations are made in a Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
``(3) Any funds made available to the Department of Homeland Security.
``(4) Any funds made available for the National Nuclear Security Administration of the Department of Energy.
``(5) Any funds made available for the Department of Transportation.
``(d) Notice of Determinations.--Whenever the Secretary of Defense makes a determination under subsection (a) or (b), the Secretary--
``(1) shall transmit a notice of the determination to the Secretary of Education, to the head of each other department or agency the funds of which are subject to the determination, and to Congress; and
``(2) shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of the determination and the effect of the determination on the eligibility of the local educational agency (and any subelement of that agency) for contracts and grants.
``(e) Semiannual Notice in Federal Register.--The Secretary of Defense shall publish in the Federal Register once every six months a list of each local educational agency that is currently ineligible for contracts and grants by reason of a determination of the Secretary under subsection (a).
``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `local educational agency' has the meaning given that term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
``(2) The term `secondary school' has the meaning that term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 49 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 983 the following new item:
``983a. Local educational agencies that prevent JROTC access on secondary school campuses.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2007, and shall apply with respect to funds available for fiscal years beginning on or after that date.
______
SA 2060. Mr. SANDERS (for himself, Mr. Byrd, and Mr. Feingold) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of title VII, add the following:
SEC. 703. PROGRAM OF RESEARCH ON DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF
ILLNESSES INCURRED IN THE PERSIAN GULF WAR.
(a) Program Required.--
(1) In general.--The Army Medical Research and Materiel Command shall carry out, as part of its Medical Research Program, a program of research on the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses incurred by members of the Armed Forces during service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations in the early 1990s during the Persian Gulf War.
(2) Designation.--The program required by this section shall be known as the ``Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Research Program''.
(3) Purpose.--The purpose of the program shall be to develop diagnostic markers and treatments for the complex of symptoms commonly known as ``Gulf War Illnesses (GWI)'', including widespread pain, cognitive impairment, and persistent fatigue in conjunction with diverse other symptoms and abnormalities, that are associated with service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations in the early 1990s during the Persian Gulf War.
(b) Program Activities.--Activities under the program required by this section shall include the following:
(1) Research activities on the chronic effects of exposures to neurotoxins associated with service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations in the early 1990s during the Persian Gulf War, body functions underlying illnesses associated with exposure to such neurotoxins, and the identification of treatments for such illnesses.
(2) Pilot studies of treatments for the complex of symptoms described in subsection (a)(3) and comprehensive clinical trials of such treatments that have demonstrated effectiveness in previous past pilot studies, in the conduct of which treatments and trials--
(A) highest priority shall be afforded to studies and trials to identify and develop effective biological markers and treatments for such complex of symptoms;
(B) secondary priority shall be afforded to studies and trials that identify biological mechanisms underlying such complex of symptoms and can lead to the identification and development of such markers; and treatments; and
(C) no study shall be conducted on a psychiatric or psychological basis for such complex of symptoms (as is consistent with current research findings).
(c) Solicitation and Evaluation of Program Activities.--
(1) Solicitation.--In providing for the conduct of activities under the program required by this section, the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command shall distribute broad solicitations and announcements of requests for proposals for such activities among governmental and non-governmental entities.
(2) Peer review.--In selecting activities to be conducted under the program, the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command shall utilize a peer review process for the identification of activities having the most substantial scientific merit.
(3) Utilization of expert services.--In preparing solicitations and announcements under paragraph (1), and in conducting peer review under paragraph (2), the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command shall, to the extent practicable, utilize the services of individuals with recognized expertise in the complex of symptoms described in subsection (a)(3).
(d) Consultation.--The Army Medical Research and Materiel Command shall carry out the program required by this section in close consultation with the advisory committee established under section 707(b) of the Persian Gulf War Veterans' Health Status Act (title VII of Public Law 102-585; 38 U.S.C. 527 note).
(e) Funding.--
(1) Additional amount for defense health program.--The amount authorized to be appropriated by section 1403 for Defense Health Program is hereby increased by $30,000,000.
(2) Availability.--Of the amount authorized to be appropriated by section 1403 for Defense Health Program, as increased by paragraph (1), $30,000,000 may be available for the program required by this section.
______
SA 2061. Mr. McCONNELL (for himself, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Allard, and Mr. Bunning) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
On page 470, after the table following line 22, add the following:
SEC. 2406. MUNITIONS DEMILITARIZATION FACILITIES, BLUE GRASS
ARMY DEPOT, KENTUCKY, AND PUEBLO CHEMICAL
ACTIVITY, COLORADO.
(a) Increase in Amount for Construction of Munitions Demilitarization Facility, Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky.--The amount authorized to be appropriated by section 2403(14) for the construction of increment 8 of a munitions demilitarization facility at Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky, is hereby increased by $17,300,000.
(b) Increase in Amount for Construction of Munitions Demilitarization Facility, Pueblo Chemical Activity, Colorado.--The amount authorized to be appropriated by section 2403(13) for the construction of increment 9 of a munitions demilitarization facility at Pueblo Chemical Activity, Colorado, is hereby increased by $32,000,000.
(c) Offset.--The total amount authorized to be appropriated by this Act (excluding the amounts authorized to be appropriated by paragraphs (13) and (14) of section 2403, as amended by subsections (b) and (a), respectively) is hereby reduced by $49,300,000, with the amount of the reduction to be allocated to amounts available for purposes other than chemical demilitarization.
(d) Deadline for Destruction of Chemical Agents and Munitions Stockpile.--
(1) Deadline.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Department of Defense shall complete work on the destruction of the entire United States stockpile of lethal chemical agents and munitions, including those stored at Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky, and Pueblo Chemical Depot, Colorado, by the deadline established by the Chemical Weapons Convention, and in no circumstances later than December 31, 2017.
(2) Report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than December 31, 2007, and every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the parties described in paragraph (2) a report on the progress of the Department of Defense toward compliance with this subsection.
(B) Parties receiving report.--The parties referred to in paragraph (1) are the Speaker of the House of the Representatives, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate, and the congressional defense committees.
(C) Content.--Each report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include the updated and projected annual funding levels necessary to achieve full compliance with this subsection. The projected funding levels for each report shall include a detailed accounting of the complete life-cycle costs for each of the chemical disposal projects.
(3) Chemical weapons convention defined.--In this subsection, the term ``Chemical Weapons Convention'' means the Convention on the Prohibition of Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction, with annexes, done at Paris, January 13, 1993, and entered into force April 29, 1997 (T. Doc. 103-21).
(4) Applicability; rule of construction.--This subsection shall apply to fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year thereafter, and shall not be modified or repealed by implication.
______
SA 2062. Mr. WEBB (for himself and Mr. Warner) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1070. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITIES ON COMMISSION TO
ASSESS THE THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES FROM
ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE ATTACK.
(a) Extension of Date of Submittal of Final Report.--Section 1403(a) of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (as enacted into law by Public Law 106-398; 50 U.S.C. 2301 note) is amended by striking ``June 30, 2007'' and inserting ``November 30, 2008''.
(b) Coordination of Work With Department of Homeland Security.--Section 1404 of such Act is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(c) Coordination With Department of Homeland Security.--The Commission and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall jointly ensure that the work of the Commission with respect to electromagnetic pulse attack on electricity infrastructure, and protection against such attack, is coordinated with Department of Homeland Security efforts on such matters.''.
(c) Funding for Fiscal Year 2008.--Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Defense by this division, $5,600,000 may be available for the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse Attack during fiscal year 2008.
______
SA 2063. Mr. SALAZAR (for himself, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Casey, Mr. Gregg, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Sununu, Mr. Domenici, Ms. Collins, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Ms. Landrieu, and Mrs. McCaskill) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of title XV, add the following:
Subtitle D--Implementation of Iraq Study Group Recommendations
SEC. 1541. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ``Iraq Study Group Recommendations Implementation Act of 2007''.
SEC. 1542. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) On March 15, 2006, the Iraq Study Group was created at the request of a bipartisan group of members of Congress.
(2) The United States Institute of Peace was designated as the facilitating organization for the Iraq Study Group with the support of the Center for the Study of the Presidency, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University.
(3) The Iraq Study Group was composed of a bipartisan group of senior individuals who have had distinguished careers in public service. The Group was co-chaired by former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III and former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Lee H. Hamilton, and the other members were former Secretary of State Lawrence S. Eagleburger; Vernon E. Jordan, Jr, the Senior Managing Director of Lazard, Freres and Company; former Attorney General Edwin Meese III; former Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor; former White House Chief of Staff Leon E. Panetta; former Secretary of Defense William J. Perry; United States Senator Charles S. Robb; and United States Senator Alan K. Simpson.
(4) On June 15, 2006, President George W. Bush signed into law the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery, 2006 (Public Law 109-234), which provided $1,000,000 to the United States Institute of Peace for activities in support of the Iraq Study Group.
(5) The Iraq Study Group consulted nearly 200 leading officials and experts, including the senior members of the Government of Iraq, the United States Government, and key coalition partners and received advice from more than 50 distinguished scholars and experts from a variety of fields who conducted working groups in the areas of economy and reconstruction, military and security, political development, and the strategic environment in Iraq and the Middle East.
(6) While the Iraq Study Group recommended shifting the primary mission of United States military forces in Iraq from combat to training, and while the Iraq Study Group described actions and conditions that could allow for a redeployment of troops not necessary for force protection out of Iraq by the first quarter of 2008, the Iraq Study Group did not set a fixed timetable for withdrawal and said it could support a short-term redeployment of United States combat forces, complemented by comprehensive political, economic, and diplomatic efforts, to stabilize Baghdad or to speed up the mission of training and equipping Iraqis if the United States commander in Iraq determines that such steps would be effective.
(7) The report of the Iraq Study Group includes a letter from the co-chairs of the Iraq Study Group, James A. Baker, III and Lee H. Hamilton, which states, ``Our political leaders must build a bipartisan approach to bring a responsible conclusion to what is now a lengthy and costly war. Our country deserves a debate that prizes substance over rhetoric, and a policy that is adequately funded and sustainable. The President and Congress must work together. Our leaders must be candid and forthright with the American people in order to win their support.''
(8) The Republicans and Democrats who comprised the Iraq Study Group reached compromise and consensus and unanimously concluded that their recommendations offer a new way forward for the United States in Iraq and the region, and are comprehensive and need to be implemented in a coordinated fashion.
SEC. 1543. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF IRAQ STUDY
GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS.
It is the sense of Congress that the President and Congress should agree that the way forward in Iraq is to implement the comprehensive set of recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, particularly those specifically described in this Act, and the President should formulate a comprehensive plan to do so. SEC. 1544. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS IN IRAQ.
It is the sense of Congress that, consistent with the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, the United States Government should--
(1) establish a ``New Diplomatic Offensive'' to deal with the problems of Iraq and of the region;
(2) support the unity and territorial integrity of Iraq;
(3) encourage other countries in the region to stop the destabilizing interventions and actions of Iraq's neighbors;
(4) secure the borders of Iraq, including through the use of joint patrols with neighboring countries;
(5) prevent the expansion of the instability and conflict beyond the borders of Iraq;
(6) promote economic assistance, commerce, trade, political support, and, if possible, military assistance for the Government of Iraq from non-neighboring Muslim nations;
(7) energize the governments of other countries to support national political reconciliation in Iraq;
(8) encourage the governments of other countries to validate the legitimate sovereignty of Iraq by resuming diplomatic relations, where appropriate, and reestablishing embassies in Baghdad;
(9) assist the Government of Iraq in establishing active working embassies in key capitals in the region;
(10) help the Government of Iraq reach a mutually acceptable agreement on the future of Kirkuk;
(11) assist the Government of Iraq in achieving certain security, political, and economic milestones, including better performance on issues such as national reconciliation, equitable distribution of oil revenues, and the dismantling of militias;
(12) encourage the holding of a meeting or conference in Baghdad, supported by the United States and the Government of Iraq, of the Organization of the Islamic Conference or the Arab League, both to assist the Government of Iraq in promoting national reconciliation in Iraq and to reestablish their diplomatic presence in Iraq;
(13) seek the creation of the Iraq International Support Group to assist Iraq in ways the Government of Iraq would desire, attempting to strengthen Iraq's sovereignty;
(14) engage directly with the Governments of Iran and Syria in order to obtain their commitment to constructive policies toward Iraq and other regional issues;
(15) provide additional political, economic, and military support for Afghanistan including resources that might become available as United States combat forces are redeployed from Iraq;
(16) remain in contact with the Iraqi leadership, conveying the clear message that there must be action by the Government of Iraq to make substantial progress toward the achievement of the milestones described in section 1551, and conveying in as much detail as possible the substance of these exchanges in order to keep the American people, the Iraqi people, and the people of countries in the region well informed of progress in these areas;
(17) make clear the willingness of the United States Government to continue training, assistance, and support for Iraq's security forces, and to continue political, military, and economic support for the Government of Iraq until Iraq becomes more capable of governing, defending, and sustaining itself;
(18) make clear that, should the Government of Iraq not make substantial progress toward the achievement of the milestones described in section 1551, the United States shall reduce its political, military, or economic support for the Government of Iraq;
(19) make clear that the United States Government does not seek to establish permanent military bases in Iraq;
(20) restate that the United States Government does not seek to control the oil resources of Iraq;
(21) make active efforts to engage all parties in Iraq, with the exception of al Qaeda;
(22) encourage dialogue between sectarian communities and press religious leaders inside and outside of Iraq to speak out on behalf of peace and reconciliation;
(23) support the presence of neutral international experts as advisors to the Government of Iraq on the processes of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of militias and other armed groups not under the control of the Government of Iraq; and
(24) ensure that reconstruction efforts in Iraq consist of great involvement by and with international partners that actively participate in the design and construction of projects.
SEC. 1545. STATEMENT OF POLICY ON SECURITY AND MILITARY
FORCES.
It shall be the policy of the United States to formulate and implement with the Government of Iraq a plan, consistent with the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, that--
(1) gives the highest priority to the training, equipping, advising, and support for security and military forces in Iraq and to supporting counterterrorism operations in Iraq; and
(2) supports the providing of more and better equipment for the Iraqi Army by encouraging the Government of Iraq to accelerate its requests under the Foreign Military Sales program and, as United States combat brigades redeploy from Iraq, provides for the transfer of certain United States military equipment to Iraqi forces.
SEC. 1546. STATEMENT OF POLICY ON STRENGTHENING THE UNITED
STATES MILITARY.
It shall be the policy of the United States to formulate and implement a plan, consistent with the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, that--
(1) directs the Secretary of Defense to build healthy relations between the civilian and military sectors, by creating an environment where senior military leaders feel free to offer independent advice to the civilian leadership of the United States Government;
(2) emphasizes training and education programs for the forces that have returned to the United States in order to restore the United States Armed Forces to a high level of readiness for global contingencies;
(3) provides sufficient funds to restore military equipment to full functionality over the next 5 years; and
(4) assesses the full future budgetary impact of the war in Iraq and its potential impact on--
(A) the future readiness of United States military forces;
(B) the ability of the United States Armed Forces to recruit and retain high-quality personnel;
(C) needed investments in military procurement and in research and development; and
(D) the budgets of other Federal agencies involved in the stability and reconstruction effort in Iraq.
SEC. 1547. STATEMENT OF POLICY ON POLICE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
IN IRAQ.
It shall be the policy of the United States to formulate and implement with the Government of Iraq a plan, consistent with the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, that--
(1) transfers the Iraqi National Police to the Ministry of Defense, where the police commando units will become part of the new Iraqi Army;
(2) transfers the Iraqi Border Police to the Ministry of Defense, which would have total responsibility for border control and external security;
(3) establishes greater responsibility for the Iraqi Police Service to conduct criminal investigations and expands its cooperation with other elements in the judicial system in Iraq in order to better control crime and protect Iraqi civilians;
(4) establishes a process of organizational transformation, including efforts to expand the capability and reach of the current major crime unit, to exert more authority over local police forces, and to give sole authority to the Ministry of the Interior to pay police salaries and disburse financial support to local police;
(5) proceeds with efforts to identify, register, and control the Facilities Protection Service;
(6) directs the Department of Defense to continue its mission to train Iraqi National Police and the Iraqi Border Police, which shall be placed within the Iraqi Ministry of Defense;
(7) directs the Department of Justice to proceed with the mission of training the police forces remaining under the Ministry of the Interior;
(8) provides for funds from the Government of Iraq to expand and upgrade communications equipment and motor vehicles for the Iraqi Police Service;
(9) directs the Attorney General to lead the work of organizational transformation in the Ministry of the Interior and creates a strategic plan and standard administrative procedures, codes of conduct, and operational measures for Iraqis; and
(10) directs the Attorney General to establish courts, train judges, prosecutors, and investigators, and create strongly supported and funded institutions and practices in Iraq to fight corruption.
SEC. 1548. STATEMENT OF POLICY ON OIL SECTOR IN IRAQ.
It shall be the policy of the United States to formulate and implement with the Government of Iraq a plan, consistent with the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, that--
(1) provides technical assistance in drafting legislation to implement the February 27, 2007, agreement by Iraq's Council of Ministers on principles for the equitable sharing of oil resources and revenues;
(2) encourages the Government of Iraq to accelerate contracting for the comprehensive oil well work-overs in the southern fields needed to increase oil production, while ensuring that the United States no longer funds such infrastructure projects;
(3) supports the Iraqi military and private security forces in their efforts to protect oil infrastructure and contractors;
(4) implements metering at both ends of the oil supply line to immediately improve accountability in the oil sector;
(5) in conjunction with the International Monetary Fund, encourages the Government of Iraq to reduce subsidies in the energy sector;
(6) encourages investment in Iraq's oil sector by the international community and by international energy companies;
(7) assists Iraqi leaders to reorganize the national oil industry as a commercial enterprise, in order to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability;
(8) encourages the Government of Iraq to post all oil contracts, volumes, and prices on the Internet so that Iraqis and outside observers can track exports and export revenues;
(9) supports the efforts of the World Bank to ensure that best practices are used in contracting; and
(10) provides technical assistance to the Ministry of Oil for enhancing maintenance, improving the payments process, managing cash flows, improving contracting and auditing, and updating professional training programs for management and technical personnel.
SEC. 1549. STATEMENT OF POLICY ON IMPROVING ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS IN IRAQ.
It shall be the policy of the United States to formulate and implement a plan, consistent with the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, that--
(1) provides for the United States to take the lead in funding assistance requests from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other humanitarian agencies;
(2) creates a new Senior Advisor for Economic Reconstruction in Iraq reporting to the President, with the authority to bring interagency unity of effort to the policy, budget, and implementation of economic reconstruction programs in Iraq and the authority to serve as the principal point of contact with United States partners in the overall reconstruction effort;
(3) gives the chief of mission in Iraq the authority to spend significant funds through a program structured along the lines of the Commander's Emergency Response Program, with the authority to rescind funding from programs and projects--
(A) in which the Government of Iraq is not demonstrating effective partnership; or
(B) that do not demonstrate substantial progress toward achievement of the milestones described in section 1551;
(4) authorizes and implements a more flexible security assistance program for Iraq, breaking down the barriers to effective interagency cooperation; and
(5) grants authority to merge United States assistance with assistance from international donors and Iraqi participants for the purpose of carrying out joint assistance projects.
SEC. 1550. STATEMENT OF POLICY ON BUDGET PREPARATION,
PRESENTATION, AND REVIEW.
It shall be the policy of the United States to formulate and implement a plan, consistent with the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, that--
(1) directs the President to include the costs for the war in Iraq in the annual budget request;
(2) directs the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the Director of National Intelligence to provide United States military and civilian personnel in Iraq the highest possible priority in obtaining professional language proficiency and cultural training;
(3) directs the United States Government to provide for long-term training for Federal agencies that participate in complex stability operations like those in Iraq and Afghanistan;
(4) creates training for United States Government personnel to carry out civilian tasks associated with complex stability operations; and
(5) directs the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Defense to devote greater analytic resources to understanding the threats and sources of violence in Iraq and institute immediate changes in the collection of data and violence and the sources of violence to provide a more accurate picture of events on the ground in Iraq.
SEC. 1551. CONDITIONS FOR CONTINUED UNITED STATES SUPPORT IN
IRAQ.
(a) In General.--It shall be the policy of the United States to condition continued United States political, military and economic support for Iraq upon the demonstration by the Government of Iraq of sufficient political will and the making of substantial progress toward achieving the milestones described in subsection (b), and to base the decision to transfer command and control over Iraqi security forces units from the United States to Iraq in part upon such factors.
(b) Milestones.--The milestones referred to in subsection
(a) are the following:
(1) Promptly establishing a fair process for considering amendments to the constitution of Iraq that promote lasting national reconciliation in Iraq.
(2) Enacting legislation or establishing other mechanisms to revise the de-Baathification laws in Iraq to encourage the employment in the Government of Iraq of qualified professionals, irrespective of ethnic or political affiliation, including ex-Baathists who were not leading figures of the Saddam Hussein regime.
(3) Enacting legislation or establishing other binding mechanisms to ensure the sharing of all Iraqi oil revenues among all segments of Iraqi society in an equitable manner.
(4) Holding free and fair provincial elections in Iraq at the earliest date practicable.
(5) Enacting legislation or establishing other mechanisms to ensure the rights of women and the rights of all minority communities in Iraq are protected.
SEC. 1552. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON REDEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES
FORCES FROM IRAQ.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) with the implementation of the policies specified in sections 1545 through 1551 and the engagement in the increased diplomatic efforts specified in section 1544, and as additional Iraqi brigades are being deployed, and subject to unexpected developments in the security situation on the ground, all United States combat brigades not necessary for force protection could be redeployed from Iraq by the first quarter of 2008, except for those that are essential for--
(A) protecting United States and coalition personnel and infrastructure;
(B) training, equipping, and advising Iraqi forces;
(C) conducting targeted counterterrorism operations;
(D) search and rescue; and
(E) rapid reaction and special operations; and
(2) the redeployment should be implemented as part of a comprehensive diplomatic, political, and economic strategy that includes sustained engagement with Iraq's neighbors and the international community for the purpose of working collectively to bring stability to Iraq.
SEC. 1553. REPORT ON POLICY IMPLEMENTATION.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter, the President shall submit to Congress a report on the actions that have been taken to implement the policies specified in sections 1544 through 1551.
______
SA 2064. Mr. GRAHAM (for himself and Mr. Kyl) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Strike section 1023.
____________________