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[Page S7089]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I support the fiscal year 2020 National
Defense Authorization Act. The final, conferenced version of this bill
reflects a compromise. As with any compromise, there are things I
support and things I wish the final bill had included.
Of great significance is the inclusion in this bill of a provision
providing 12 weeks of paid parental leave for all Federal employees.
There are Federal employees in every corner of this country, including
in Vermont. We lead by example when we say that the Federal Government
will support new parents, who will now be able to be home with their
new child in those important first days. I hope that this example is
one that can be replicated throughout our workforce.
The fiscal year 2020 NDAA includes important wins for servicemembers,
their families, and our national security as well. I am pleased that at
long last we have successfully introduced a phase-out of the so-called
Widows' Tax. This bill mandates gender integration for Marine Corps
training, makes much needed progress in addressing the use and after
effects of open-air burn pits, and demands new standards for
microelectronics supply chains, so we know our technology is working
for us.
Closer to home, the bill authorizes $30 million to construct a new
Army Mountain Warfare School in Jericho. This is important to Vermont
and to the Nation. This major construction project will allow the
Vermont Army National Guard, one of the Nations' few mountain
battalions, to better fulfill their mission of training soldiers from
the Guard, Reserves, and Active Duty to accomplish their mission in
cold, rugged terrain. Vermont is an ideal training ground because its
mountains and climate are challenging, but still allow training
throughout the year for all levels of expertise. That training is
important to the Army because mountain skills require the ability to
move from one place to another when major obstacles are in the way,
something valuable anywhere the Army operates.
The bill includes an important measure based on an amendment I filed
as well to improve condolence payment authorities for civilians who are
killed as a result of U.S. military operations. We have included funds
for this purpose for years through the appropriations process, but very
few payments have been made and record keeping has often been poor. The
new provisions in this bill aim to improve the process and increase its
use, so that when civilians are harmed in war, their families are not
left economically destitute as well.
I am disappointed that this bill does not include measures that were
adopted by the House of Representatives to repeal authorizations for
the use of force that were adopted nearly two decades ago. We simply
must have a debate in Congress about our ongoing engagement around the
world that relies on these AUMFs.
I wish the final agreement had included a hazardous substance
designation for the dangerous chemicals known by their abbreviations
PFAS and PFOA, nor was a sufficient authorization included that would
support the cleanup of these chemicals. The NDAA also includes
authorization of the President's Space Force, which I believe increases
bureaucracy at the expense of our real priorities.
Nonetheless, I believe this is a good bill that supports our troops,
and for that reason, I support its passage.
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