Washington, D.C. - Late last night the Senate adopted the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2005 (H.R. 4200/S. 2400) which authorizes $422.2 billion for the Department of Defense (DOD) and national security programs of the Department of Energy (DOE). U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), Ranking Member of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, voted for the measure and worked to ensure that the legislation supports the readiness of U.S. military forces, improves the facilities in which our military personnel work and housing for them and their families, and enhances the efficiency of DOD operations.
The Senate-passed bill includes language inserted in Committee by Senator Akaka striking a provision which would have permanently repealed the prohibition against contracting out security guards at military installations. The provision extends the current waiver of the prohibition for an additional two years and requires the Department of Defense to submit its report on its long-term plans for meeting its increased security guard needs which was due to Congress in May 2003. "I believe that the security of our defense facilities is best served by hiring federal employees to safeguard them on a full-time basis." Akaka said. "Experience has shown that federal employees are better screened, better trained, and better supervised than contracted security guards."
The bill also included an Akaka amendment that requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress a plan for expanding and improving DOD's national security foreign language workforce to meet its requirements for its foreign language workforce on both a short-term and long-term basis. The amendment acknowledges the shortages of translators and interpreters in the national security arena and a general shortfall in language proficiency levels which has adversely affected agency operations and hindered military, law enforcement, intelligence, counterterrorism and diplomatic efforts. "We must address the critical shortfalls in federal employees with foreign language proficiency. The magnitude of our reliance, for example, on the private sector for interpreters and analysts in Iraq and Afghanistan, is astounding and poses its own problems. It is imperative that we begin to address this situation."
The bill continues efforts Senator Akaka initiated in FY 2002 to enhance the Department's coordination of anti-corrosion programs. Akaka was successful in inserting language in the Senate Committee report which urges the Department's Comptroller to establish by December 1, 2004, a specific funding mechanism for use by the Department in FY06 for the Office of Corrosion Policy and Oversight. The office, which is responsible for coordinating Department of Defense policy to prevent and mitigate the corrosion of military equipment and infrastructure, was created at Akaka's urging in the FY02 National Defense Authorization Act. "The Department is spending billions of dollars to fix equipment affected by corrosion," he noted. "We must proactively address this problem and ensure that there is coordination within the Department between the services on these efforts."
The bill authorizes $365.7 million for military construction funding in Hawaii, an increase of $26 million over the President's budget request of $339.7 million. This increase reflects additional military construction projects requested by Senator Akaka and Senator Daniel K. Inouye. These additional projects include $10 million for Saddle Road, $7.5 million for the AEOS Mirror Recoat Facility on Maui, and $8.5 million for the Electrical Grid at Hickam AFB. "These funds will help alleviate the housing problems faced by military personnel and their families in the islands," Akaka noted. "Hawaii's strategic importance mandates a strong military presence for the foreseeable future and we need to ensure proper housing and facilities for the men and women in all services who are defending our nation."
The FY05 Defense Authorization bill includes funding authorization and statutory language Senator Akaka sought for several projects of particular interest to Hawaii. Senator Akaka successfully secured funding of over $77 million for the following projects for the State of Hawaii:
The Advanced Fusion Processor, for the amount of $4.0 million
Tissue Development on Elastin Biomatrices, for the amount of $4.0 million
CUSAS-Common Picture Advanced Technology, for the amount of $3.0 million
Autonomous Unmanned Surface Vessel (AUSV), for the amount of $3.0 million
Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell Trial, for the amount of $3.0 million
Remote Sensor Monitoring Technology Research Program, for the amount of $3.0 million
SEE-Rescue Distress Streamer, for the amount of $3.0 million
Unexploded Ordnance Detection Using Airborne Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), for the amount of $4.7 million
High Accuracy Network Determination System (HANDS), for the amount of $10.0 million
Man Overboard Identification System (MOBI), for the amount of $10.0 million
Wave Power Demonstration Project, for the amount of $4.0 million
High Performance Metal Fiber Brushes, for the amount of $5.0 million
Corrosion Prevention and Control Program for Marine Corps, for the amount of $4.0 million
Corrosion Prevention and Control Program for Army, for the amount of $8.0 million
Electrical Grid at Hickam AFB, for the amount of $8.5 million
