Waving Points of Order Against Conference Report on H.R. 1268, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, The Global War on Terror
WAIVING POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1268, EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR DEFENSE, THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR, AND TSUNAMI RELIEF ACT, 2005 -- (House of Representatives - May 05, 2005)
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the rule for the emergency supplemental appropriations act and the underlying bill.
In addition to the needed funds to sustain military operations and reconstruction efforts in the Middle East, this legislation contains two key provisions that I would like to highlight. The first is language that ensures that funds in the bill will not be used to cancel the multiyear contract for C-130J procurement.
Currently more than half the fleet of combat-ready C-130s is over 30 years old. Although their longevity is clearly a testament to the value of these critical aircraft, we should be very concerned that the C-130E and H models continue to age at alarming rates, putting our tactical airlift capability at risk in the near term.
In fact, several weeks ago, the Air Force announced that they are grounding much of the C-130E models because of severe fatigue in their wings, including a dozen that have been flying missions in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mr. Speaker, some of these planes were used in Vietnam, and we are literally flying their wings off in the Middle East. The Air Force has long anticipated the aging of the older models, which only makes it more remarkable that the multiyear contract to replace these planes has been carved out of the 2006 budget.
Mr. Speaker, because of the growing problem that the Air Force faces in its tactical airlift program, I support the C-130J language, and I would like to express my sincere thanks to the appropriations chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), and the conferees for retaining this language.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the conferees for protecting the Real ID provisions of H.R. 1268. As our Rules Committee chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), just mentioned, this would establish and rapidly implement voluntarily regulations for State driver's licenses and identification document security standards.
It would increase the burden of proof of claiming asylum. It would synchronize terrorism-related grounds for inadmissibility and removal, and also facilitate the completion of the San Diego border fence.
These provisions were recommended by the 9/11 Commission, bipartisan, 10 members; and they are important for securing our borders from illegal entry and possible terrorist activity. Our immigration laws are in need of reform, and I believe these provisions are a positive step in the right direction.
So I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying bill.
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