June 27, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 109 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages S4609-S4610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                S. 1790

  Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Let me begin by thanking Ranking Member Jack Reed of 
Rhode Island and Chairman Inhofe of Oklahoma, as well as my other 
colleagues on the committee and my staff, who have worked tirelessly on 
this to include key elements of my proposal that are important to our 
military, as well as to our Nation.
  This NDAA includes comprehensive reforms to the Military Housing 
Privatization Initiative. It changes military housing in ways that are 
long overdue and will prioritize families, ensure long-term quality 
assurance, and enhance accountability.
  In the hearings held by the Armed Services Committee with military 
families who have experienced adverse health effects and financial 
burden from residing in hazardous housing, one point was absolutely 
clear: Our Nation is failing military families who live in this 
military housing. The conditions, widespread and prevalent, are 
entirely unacceptable. I was heartbroken to hear much of this testimony 
from military families who already sacrifice so much and who have 
struggled to secure safe and livable conditions.
  I visited some of the homes at the New London base, and I was struck 
by the mold, the repairs that were needed, the defects in appliances, 
and the complaints about lack of proper air-conditioning and heating. 
We owe our military families much better, and we owe law enforcement 
the support they need to crack down on fraudulent private contractors.
  I am also proud that the NDAA includes my provision to prohibit the 
Trump administration from modifying military installations to detain 
migrant children who have been forcibly separated from their parents. 
The separation policies of this administration have been absolutely 
abhorrent and antithetical to our values and ideals. They have been 
shameful and disgraceful.
  We have seen the photos, and those pictures are worth a thousand of 
my words today, but the misuse of military resources, as I have 
repeatedly emphasized, to implement this administration's radical 
immigration enforcement agenda--this provision is a small but necessary 
step toward protecting migrant families from the cruelties of this 
family separation policy. It is only the beginning. We need to ensure 
that the Department of Homeland Security reimburses the Defense 
Department when military resources are used for support at the border. 
This kind of measure will hopefully prevent DHS from using the Pentagon 
as a piggy bank--a financial resource for cruel and inhumane policies.
  We need to ensure that the President is stopped from abusing his 
Executive authority by deploying troops to assist in deportation.
  We also considered floor amendments to the NDAA. I want to highlight 
an amendment that I offered to improve equity in the post-9/11 GI bill 
benefit. Last July, the Pentagon issued a new policy on servicemembers' 
ability to transfer unused education benefits to their family members. 
These new policies prevent servicemembers with more than 16 years of 
military service from transferring education benefits at the time that 
military servicemembers opt to transfer rather than when they become 
eligible. The Pentagon argues that these changes were made to ensure 
that the Department keeps a key retention tool--all while breaking our 
promise to military families by moving the goalpost of transfer 
eligibility and exacerbating inequities in transferring educational 
benefits. Most notably, disqualifying servicemembers with more than 16 
years of military services counterintuitively penalizes the men and 
women who have served this country in uniform for the longest time.
  My amendment would make the post-9/11 GI bill an earned benefit 
rather than a retention tool and ensure that all servicemembers who 
have completed 10 years of service in the armed services and 
Armed Forces are eligible to transfer their benefits to dependents at 
any time, both while serving on Active Duty and as a veteran.

  Despite the passage of the NDAA and the need for this amendment 
continuing, I will continue to champion equitable education benefits 
for our military families.
  This year's NDAA makes important, unprecedented investments in the 
submarines, helicopters, and aircraft built in Connecticut. They are 
not only manufactured in my State--employing thousands of skilled 
workers vital to our defense industrial base--but they are also 
critical to our national security. They keep our country safe, and they 
make sure our Nation and our military have a fair fight. They play a 
vital role in our defense industry thanks to the unparalleled skills 
and unstinting dedication of our manufacturing workforce. Because of 
that workforce, we are able to build the best submarines and the best 
F-35 engines and other aircraft engines and helicopters in the world--
not only through that skilled workforce and those major contractors but 
the workers at suppliers and contractors, who are equally vital.
  Last year, we built two submarines. This year, there will be two 
more, with procurement for another major part of a submarine. As we 
begin accelerating production of those Virginia-class submarines, the 
New London Sub Base must have the capacity to support increased 
submarine output. That is why I fought for $72.3 million to replace 
Pier 32 at Sub Base New London, ensuring a modern landing to 
accommodate multiple Virginia-class submarines.
  I was proud to lead the fight for increased investment in those 
Virginia-class submarines. That included $4.7 billion for those two 
submarines and nearly $4.3 billion in that advance procurement for a 
third Virginia-class submarine.
  The NDAA also includes $2.3 billion--which is $140 million above the 
President's request--for the Columbia-class program.
  I was proud, as well, to champion over $10 billion for 94 F-35s, 
which are important to all of our military services. That is an 
additional 16 above the President's request.
  In helicopter production, we will keep faith with the warfighters and 
with our defense industrial base at Sikorsky.
  Today's effort is a tribute to the leadership and the bipartisan 
efforts in

[[Page S4610]]

this Congress. I thank and applaud my colleagues for coming together on 
behalf of our Nation's defense, which is especially important in a time 
of disillusionment and seeming dysfunction for the American people.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado.

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