CASTLE HELPS HOUSE PASS DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT, INCLUDES CASTLE PROVISION FOR ETHICAL DEFENSE CONTACTING
Rep. Castle says bill does not do enough to provide adequate leave time for soldiers returning from combat zones
Washington
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Delaware Congressman Mike Castle voted in favor of H.R. 1585,
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. The
legislation authorizes $696.3 billion for defense programs, including
funding for additional protection of U.S. troops in Iraq, a 3.5% pay
raise for military personnel, extended discounted benefits under the
military's Tricare health network, National Guard and Reserve
equipment, and emergency supplemental funds for Iraq and Afghanistan
among others. Aside from these authorizations, the bill also includes
Rep. Castle's provision requiring the Comptroller General to
investigate the internal ethics compliance programs of major defense
contractors. In light of recent problems regarding defense
contractors, the provision will examine the extent to which current
internal ethics programs ensure proper transparency and accountability.
However, Rep. Castle was disappointed that the legislation did not
contain his amendment granting extra leave time to troops returning
from combat zones. Current Pentagon policies give all members of the
Armed Forces, including those serving in the Guard and Reserve, 2.5
days of leave time (vacation) for every month -- regardless of whether
they were deployed in a combat zone or at their home base in the U.S.
Rep. Castle's amendment would have credited troops one additional day
of leave time for every month that they are deployed in a combat zone.
"The purpose of my amendment was to provide returning troops with
adequate vacation time to spend with family and friends as well as time
for mental recovery," Rep. Castle said. "Experts have said this time
is vital for their recuperation, and I am disappointed it was not
included in the legislation. While the bill allows extra leave time in
lieu of special pay or other benefits, my goal was to provide this as
an additional benefit to honor the sacrifices of our brave men and
women. I think the omission of my provision is unacceptable, and I
intend to continue my efforts to see this provision through next year.
"Despite Congress' failure to provide extra leave time for soldiers, I
was pleased that Delaware military construction
projects were authorized in the legislation. The bill authorizes $17.5
million for military construction projects at Dover Air Force Base and
$10.8 million for military construction projects at the Delaware Air
National Guard's New Castle County Airport base, including construction
of a new C-130 hangar. The authorization of these funds will help to
keep Delaware moving forward with having adequate facilities at both
Dover Air Force Base and the Delaware National Guard."
Specifically, H.R. 1585 authorizes:
- $184.9 billion in emergency supplemental funds,
which are authorized specifically to support operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan among others;
- $26.9 billion to provide additional protection of U.S. troops in Iraq;
- Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles ($17.6 billion);
- Up-armored Humvees ($3.3 billion);
- Personal body armor ($1.2 billion); and
- Improvised explosive device (IED) jammers ($4.8 billion).
- Extended discounted benefits under the military's Tricare health network to almost all reservists;
- Creates
a new system of case managers, advocates and counselors for wounded
service members returning from combat overseas to help them get the
care they need and to help navigate the military's health care
bureaucracy.
- 3.5% military pay raise, which extends certain special pay and bonuses for active duty and reserve personnel;
- Nearly $15 billion for F-22 Raptor, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, FA-18, and C-17 aircraft;
- $6.7 billion for National Guard and Reserve equipment; and
- Almost $10 billion for DD(X) assault ship, new attack submarines, and other major navy vessels.