Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009.  Having served on the House Armed Services Committee, I know that it handles some of the most complicated and contentious issues before Congress, but through a combination of hard work and a commitment to bipartisanship, it has been able to assemble a good bill that all Members should support.  I would particularly like to thank Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member Hunter for their leadership and their efforts to enhance our national security.

The members of this body hold significantly different opinions about what our nation’s role should be in Iraq.  Personally, having voted against the authorization of the use of force in Iraq, I believe that our current combat operations are doing significant and systemic damage to our military readiness and that we need a new strategy that emphasizes diplomatic and economic efforts and that allows us to bring our troops home.  Despite our differences on Iraq policy, though, my colleagues and I stand in full support of the men and women in uniform who serve our nation, as well as their families. 

This legislation recognizes their service by providing a pay raise of 3.9 percent -- an increase of 0.5 percent over the President’s budget request.  It also rejects the President’s ill-advised proposal to raise premiums and co-pays for participants of TRICARE, the military health care system.  Congress recognizes that other options exist to reduce the cost of health care and that we must not place an undue burden on our military families.  To that end, H.R. 5658 establishes several new preventive health initiatives, which will keep people healthier and reduce future costs. 

As co-chair of the House Submarine Caucus, I am particularly pleased that the bill before us makes a major investment in our national security by providing an additional $722 million for advanced procurement of a second VIRGINIA-class submarine in FY2010 – one year ahead of schedule.  Last year, Congress provided $588 million to expedite the VIRGINIA-class construction schedule to attain two submarines in FY2011, and this legislation moves the target date even sooner. 

Submarines are one of the most effective and flexible platforms in our military, but if we don’t build more quickly, we will lose our strategic advantage over nations that are rapidly expanding their naval forces.  Furthermore, this funding will help our submarine industrial base, which, without additional work, will face layoffs, and our nation could lose their specialized skills and expertise.  The men and women who work at Electric Boat in my district make the best submarines in the world, and I am pleased that this legislation will allow them to expand their contributions to our national security.  I am deeply grateful to Chairman Ike Skelton and Seapower Subcommittee Chairman Gene Taylor – as well as my friend and neighbor Joe Courtney and my co-chair on the Submarine Caucus Randy Forbes – for their commitment to our submarine force. 

This Congress has shown a commitment to our Navy and recognizes the importance of shipbuilding.  While I applaud many provisions in this bill that will help restore the size of our fleet, I have concerns about the decision to delay the purchase of the third Zumwalt-class destroyer (DDG-1000).  Instead of funding the President’s full request, the bill provides $400 million that may be used either to purchase long-lead materials for the third DDG-1000 or to begin procurement of two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (DDG-51).  The DDG-1000 is the first installment in the Navy’s Family of Ships line, which will develop new technology for later insertion in the next-generation cruiser and other surface ships.  Delaying DDG-1000 will prevent the development of new technologies and weapons systems that are necessary to address current and future threats.  Additionally, while purchasing additional DDG-51s will help us increase the size of our fleet, they cannot fulfill the mission requirements of the DDG-1000, which was specifically built to have greater capability and a smaller crew.  As we move forward with this bill, I ask that the committee keep these concerns in mind.

I am very proud to support H.R. 5658, which provides our men and women in uniform with the resources, equipment and services they need to continue their excellent service to the nation.  I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure.