A summary of Kerry’s adopted amendments to the DoD Authorization bill is below:

Kerry amendment adds $10 million to accelerate R&D of military technology Increased funding of “Project Sheriff” will help keep troops safe on the ground

Kerry’s amendment will secure an additional $10 million in funding for “Project Sheriff ,” an innovative program aimed at adapting new technology for our troops in Iraq. These technologies will work to meet the current needs of warfighters in Iraq and enhance survivability and lethality, and give soldiers and Marines the ability to select an appropriate level of force against threats. Lessons learned from recent combat operations identify scenarios where combatants and non-combatants frequently intermix. “Project Sheriff” is an initiative of the Pentagon's Office of Force Transformation. The House of Representatives included an additional $10 million for Project Sheriff in its DOD authorization bill. Without the Kerry amendment, the Senate legislation would not have funded this important program.

“It is our responsibility to give our troops on the ground the very best technology, equipment and tools possible to keep them safe,” Kerry said. “Our forces must be prepared to fight in urban environments where our enemies can hide among building and civilians. Lethal attacks can come with no warning from an alley, a high rooftop, a darkened window or even a crowded street corner. New technology can help our troops protect themselves and civilians, and it is time we make this new technology a reality.”

Kerry amendment protects housing benefits for military families after death of loved-one Doubles length of time families can stay in military housing

Kerry’s amendment will allow surviving widows and children to reside in military housing -- either on base housing or with their housing allowance -- for a full year after death of loved one on active duty. This is a key component of Kerry's Military Family Bill of Rights.

Until Kerry's efforts began to extend the time survivors can stay in military housing, families could only remain for six months after the loss of a service member -- often meaning children would start a school year in one state and finish it in another. The Senate passed a similar Kerry amendment earlier this spring, but that provision would have expired at the end of this year because it was attached to an emergency spending measure. Kerry’s effort this week will make permanent this one-year protection for military families permanent.

The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and National Military Family Association (NMFA) have endorsed Kerry’s effort.

“Our troops who lose their lives fighting for us truly have made the greatest sacrifice for this nation,” Kerry said. “It is our utmost responsibility to keep our word to their families and help them during these times -- extending the length of time survivors can stay in military housing is the very least we can do. This effort gives these families greater flexibility as they grapple with the bigger issues, and shows them their country cares.”

Kerry and Levin amendment will ensure $100,000 death gratuity for all active-duty deaths

There has been bipartisan support for improving the military death gratuity. The FY2005 Supplemental appropriation bill raised the benefit to $100,000 but did not include all non-combat deaths. Under current law, the government provides a $100,000 gratuity to the survivors of those killed in combat or in training accidents, but provides only $12,000 to those who might collapse during physical exercise or die in a car accident while traveling to or from work. The Kerry-Levin amendment provides a uniform $100,000 gratuity to all who die in uniform.

The amendment further makes the gratuity retroactive to October 7, 2001.

Kerry said, “We can not put a price on human life, but we owe it to our troops and military families to ensure that the family of any soldier who dies serving our nation has the means provided to them to get their lives back on track.”

Kerry amendment demands accountability on secret prisons Forces administration to allow Congressional oversight

In an overwhelming rebuke to the Bush administration’s attempt to hide alleged CIA secret prisons from Congress, the Senate voted 82-9 in favor of an amendment by John Kerry that will require the Director of National Intelligence to report on the reported clandestine detention facilities. The Kerry Amendment requires classified reports to Congress providing a full accounting on any clandestine prison or detention facility operated by the United States government, regardless of its location.

"I don’t have any doubt in the American public’s determination to win the War on Terror. But I do know that any administration that tries to keep Congress in the dark damages the cause for which we are all fighting. This is about common-sense oversight and accountability," Kerry said.

Kerry legislation will assist small businesses hurt by drought

Kerry, the lead Democrat on the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, also announced the Senate approved his Small Business Drought Relief Act, which will ensure small businesses damaged by drought have access to low-interest loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA). The legislation would provide emergency aid to non-farm-related small businesses suffering from severe drought conditions. It has received widespread bipartisan support among governors and small businesses.

"Small businesses devastated by droughts shouldn't have to struggle against an unresponsive SBA bureaucracy," Kerry said. "The SBA has ignored the damage droughts do to fishing guides, marinas, bait and tackle shops, and all kinds of small businesses. My amendment cuts through the red tape to get these businesses the loans they should already have had access to long ago."

Kerry legislation will allow small businesses to apply to multiple award contracts

Kerry’s effort will ensure that small businesses have access to more federal contracts, even if they are combined in multiple awards, by allowing the Small Business Reserve to apply to multiple award contracts, including federal supply schedules.

Kerry said, “This much-needed protection creates opportunities for small businesses to participate in federal contracting through Multiple Award Contracts and Federal Supply Schedules. This is an arena where small businesses have previously been locked out.”

Kerry legislation will encourage high tech innovation/R&D

Kerry was successful in including language that encourages the transfer of technologies from the research phase of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to the commercialization phase. This will help small high tech firms bring new products and innovations to the marketplace. It also allows up to 1 percent of SBIR funds to be used for this effort.

Kerry said, “America’s competitive advantage in the global business arena is the ability to rapidly bring new technologies to market. This pilot program will help small high-tech firms -- the hot beds of innovation in our economy -- get their new technologies to market faster. The sooner these products are available, the sooner we will all benefit from their discoveries.”

Kerry legislation encourages Cooperation on improved radio frequency identifier technology Kerry’s effort will require that the Army to report on their efforts to include small businesses as they re-organize the supply chain using radio frequency identifier technology. Kerry said, “As the Army continues to reorganize their supply chain, it is essential that small businesses are not left behind. The impact of such a large-scale reorganization should include a significant outreach effort to ensure that small businesses are able to sustain their valuable role as suppliers to the Department of Defense.”

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