DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS -- (Senate - September 08, 2006)
Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, I rise to speak on behalf of my amendment to the fiscal year 2007 Defense appropriations bill, S.A. 4911 to H.R., 5631, with Senator Reed to restore full funding for Predator unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs, for the U.S. Special Operations Command, SOCOM. This amendment will allow SOCOM to receive its full complement of Predators by 2010 by adding $64.4 million to the fiscal year 2007 Defense appropriations bill.
Our brave troops and intelligence collectors must have the tools they need to find, fix and eliminate terrorists intended to do our Nation harm. The Predator, which comes in armed and unarmed modes and has advanced sensors and cameras, is one of the most important systems we have to monitor terrorist activity in hostile environments. The Predator also is a critical intelligence gathering platform in fighting insurgents in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan. According to Defense News, the Predator was central to the detection and killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq this past June.
I have been pleased to fight for putting more Predators in the hands of our Special Operations Command ever since U.S. Special Operations Command Deputy Commander Eric Olson responded to my question about whether he had all the tools he needs to win the war on terror in an April 6, 2006, hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee's Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee. Admiral Olson said his command did not have enough Predators, and was not slated to have adequate numbers of Predators for several years. This is unacceptable, and I expressed my concern to Chairman Warner and Ranking Member Levin in an April 27, 2006, letter urging committee action on this shortcoming.
I was equally pleased that the Senate Armed Services Committee adopted my amendment calling for full funding of the Predators for the Special Operations Command during mark-up of the fiscal year 2007 Defense authorization bill.
Unfortunately, defense appropriators cut back funding for Predators in its mark-up of the fiscal year 2007 Defense appropriations bill. My amendment restores full funding for a second squad of Predators for our Special Operations Forces' war-fighters and intelligence collectors by 2010. Giving our military and our intelligence personnel the best tools, as quickly as possible, to win the war on terror is something we must do.
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