Senators Warner & Webb Secure Funds in FY08 Defense Authorization to Boost Military Construction in VA

Enhance Troop Welfare and Improve Wartime Contracting; Conference Report Agreed to by Senate and House Negotiators

December 14, 2007 -- Washington, DC—Senator John W. Warner (R-VA) and Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), both members of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, announced today their joint support for the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (H.R. 1585). This vital legislation will increase Virginia’s significant contributions to national security, enhance the welfare of our men and women serving in uniform, and remedy systemic problems in wartime contracting.

Final passage in the House occurred December 12, and final passage in the Senate occurred December 14. The legislation is now before the president to be signed into law.

“I am pleased to see such substantive and important measures that will give the military the much-needed funding and resources it needs and deserves,” said Warner. “The policies and programs in this legislation send a strong signal of support to our men and women in uniform, and their families, and demonstrate that we value and honor their service – both overseas and here at home.”

“This legislation ensures that our critical defense programs are responsibly funded and acknowledges the important role Virginia plays in our nation’s security,” said Webb. “Among its many investments, the bill will contribute to more stable levels of future shipbuilding in Virginia. The key to the Navy’s future—and to the business health of the more than 500 companies in the Commonwealth associated with ship construction and repair—is a stable and affordable shipbuilding plan. This bill helps to set us off on the right foot.”

Webb continued: “I am particularly thankful for Senator Warner’s support for my amendment to create an independent Wartime Contracting Commission that will bring accountability to the serious problems of fraud, waste, and abuse in Iraq. This Commission will also provide concrete recommendations to remedy problems that prove to be systemic rather than simple abuse. Those of us in Congress have an obligation to the American taxpayer to be proper stewards of their tax dollars, and I believe we’re one step closer to that goal with our legislation.”

Provisions of significant importance to Virginia include:

* Navy Shipbuilding

Authorized more than $13 billion for Navy shipbuilding and conversion, including:

Ø Five Navy battle-force warships, including the first ship of the next generation CVN-21 nuclear-powered aircraft carrier class to be built at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipbuilding;

Ø Multiyear authority for Virginia-class submarines for fiscal year 2009 through 2013, adding $588 million in advance procurement funding to support buying an additional submarine in 2010;

Ø Advance procurement funding for a new class of supply ships and a 10th San Antonio-class amphibious ship.

· Military Construction Related to Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC)

Authorized more than $1.5 billion in BRAC-related military construction funding for projects in Virginia for fiscal year 2008. Additional military construction funding was authorized for a U.S. Joint Forces Command Headquarters building in Norfolk ($13.2 million), an electromagnetic railgun test facility in Dahlgren ($9.8 million) and a National Guard Field Maintenance Shop in Winchester ($3.1 million).

· Partial Relocation of Ft. Belvoir Workforce to Ease Traffic Congestion and Acquisition of Real Property

Authorized the Army to relocate some of the incoming BRAC-related workforce at Fort Belvoir to a site adjacent to public transportation to promote “smart growth” and reduce congestion. Also authorized the acquisition of real property to facilitate the BRAC realignment, including a parcel of land now under the administrative jurisdiction of the Administrator of General Services and used as warehouse facilities in Springfield. Further authorization was granted for the acquisition, if necessary, of other available property in the vicinity of Fort Belvoir to meet BRAC requirements.

Conferees expressed the sense of Congress that roads leading onto Fort Belvoir and other military installations that will be significantly impacted by additional civilian employees and military personnel as the result of BRAC closures and realignments should be considered for designation as defense access roads.

* Extension of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse Attack (EMP)

Adopted an amendment cosponsored by Warner and Webb to extend the submission date for the EMP Commission’s final report to Nov. 30, 2008, and required the commission to coordinate with the Secretary of Homeland Security regarding its work with respect to EMP attack on electricity infrastructure and protection against such attack. Much of the commission’s research and analysis will be performed at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, in Dahlgren.

* Educational Aid to School Districts in Military Communities

Authorized $45 million in supplemental educational aid to local school districts affected by the assignment or location of military families, including $30 million for supplemental Impact Aid, $5 million for educational services to severely disabled children and an additional $10 million for districts experiencing rapid increases in the number of students due to rebasing, activation of new military units or base realignment and closure.

Provisions of national importance in the bill for troop welfare and wartime contracting include:

* Pay Raise for Uniformed Service Personnel

Authorized a 3.5 percent across-the-board pay raise for all uniformed service personnel.

* Wounded Warrior Act

Incorporated the “Wounded Warrior Act,” which includes provisions from both the Senate- and House-passed bills to improve healthcare and benefits for recovering veterans and recovering service members and their families, and to begin the process of reform of the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability-evaluation systems.

* Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs)

Authorized more than $17 billion to satisfy all DoD requirements for mine-resistant ambush- protected (MRAP) vehicles that improve protection for our troops exposed to the threat of improvised explosive devices (IED) in Iraq and Afghanistan.

· Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan

Established a Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan, sponsored by Webb and Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo), to study and investigate federal agency contracting for reconstruction, logistics support and security functions in those countries, and make recommendations for improving contracting processes in the future.

Expands the jurisdiction of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) and a newly created Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) beyond reconstruction funds to include security contracts executed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

* Contractors Performing Private Security Functions in Areas of Combat Operations

Requires the Department of Defense to strengthen its policies regarding private security contractors by developing procedures to maintain records of private security personnel, register and develop an identification system for vehicles operated by contractors and ensure that private security personnel are briefed on and understand their obligation to comply with applicable U.S., Iraqi and international laws on the use of force. The amendment also provides for the cultural training of security contractors and guidance on working with the U.S. military and Iraqi nationals.

· Prohibition on the Increase in TRICARE Fees

Extends the prohibition on increases in TRICARE fees for retirees and reservists for one year and urges the DoD to consider options to constrain the growth of healthcare spending in ways that do not disadvantage retired members of the uniformed services.

Source: Senator Jim Webb

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