Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024
Floor Speech
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Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment regarding the Department of Defense workforce, which is particularly important as we face a shutdown.
However, first, I need to address two of the biggest workforce challenges facing the military, both wholly manufactured by my friends on the other side of the aisle.
First and foremost, to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, do not shut down the Federal Government. Step up to the plate and govern on a bipartisan basis. I know it is hard, but the country needs you to set aside impeachment inquiries, ideological crusades, and infighting to do your job.
Second, Senator Tommy Tuberville's holds on more than 300 military promotions are a direct threat to our national security and undermine the leadership of our military.
For the first time in the history of the Department of Defense, three of the five military services were operating without Senate-confirmed leaders. General and flag officers are being required to perform double duty in acting roles. Military families are having their lives put on hold.
How are we going to retain talented officers if their careers face a graveyard in the U.S. Senate, buried under the desk of one Senator who cannot name the three branches of government?
Senator Tuberville's holds, which would require more than 700 hours of floor time in the Senate to overcome individually, are an outrageous assault on our Nation's military at the altar of a far-right culture war.
I call on my colleagues to join me in condemning this reckless behavior. But I digress.
My amendment would prevent Congressional Republicans from further compounding their attacks on the Department's workforce. The amendment would prevent any cuts to the Department of Defense civilian workforce that undermine our military and national security.
Please follow along closely.
Defense appropriations bills routinely include language that says: None of the funds appropriated by this act may be used to reduce the civilian workforce programmed full-time equivalent levels absent the appropriate analysis of the impacts of those reductions.
This language has received broad bipartisan support. It was included in the 2023 omnibus. It is in the current FY24 Department of Defense Appropriations bill in the Senate, and it was adopted as part of other past fiscal year Department of Defense appropriations bills in this body and in the other.
This language is derived from section 129(a) of Title 10, General Policy For Total Force Management, which states, ``The Secretary may not reduce the civilian workforce programmed full-time equivalent levels unless the Secretary conducts an appropriate analysis of the impacts of such reductions on workload, military force structure, lethality, readiness, operational effectiveness, stress on the military force, and fully burdened costs.''
My amendment would restore that important language and legacy by prohibiting dangerous civilian workforce cuts that do not prioritize those enumerated priorities. It is helpful to understand the broader context to appreciate why this is essential.
The underlying bill cuts the civilian workforce by $1.1 billion. The Committee Report for the bill refers vaguely to robotic process automation and artificial intelligence as ways to reduce the civilian workforce. That is a low bar for due diligence.
Forgive me, but I prefer the previous standard Congress reiterated and endorsed, which was to remind the Department that any such reduction in the civilian workforce must first prioritize the lethality, readiness, and operational effectiveness of the military.
My amendment would restore that consideration and that language.
Mr. Chair, I include in the Record a letter from the American Federation of Government Employees in support of my amendment. American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Washington, DC, September 21, 2023.
Dear Member of Congress: On behalf of the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE), which represents over 750,000 federal and District of Columbia employees, including 250,000 Defense Department civilian employees, I write to provide AFGE's views on several amendments that were made in order by the House Rules Committee with respect to H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024, that the House is expected to consider today.
Specifically, AFGE strongly urges you to oppose amendment 168 that will be offered by Rep. Hageman (R-AZ), amendment 167 that will be offered by Rep. Greene (R-GA), amendments 155 and 156 that will be offered by Rep. Boebert (R-CO), amendment 161: that will be offered by Rep. Fallon (R-TX), amendment 178 that will be offered by Rep. Roy (R-TX), amendment 172 that will be offered by Rep. Norman (R-SC), and amendments 176 and 184 that will be offered by Rep. Rosendale (R-MT) during floor consideration of H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024.
Hageman amendment 168 would arbitrarily and without justification prohibit regular telework and remote work for Defense Department civilian employees and contractors. Longstanding policy has, with considerable success, directed DoD agency managers and personnel to collaboratively develop and implement telework policies that address the specific needs of agencies and further their missions. Importantly, the workplace flexibility that telework enables has improved DoD's capacity to maintain continuous operations in the event of a natural or national security crisis. It has also helped DoD agencies recruit and retain talent, be more productive, and reduce traffic congestion and emissions. Not insignificantly, remote work and telework are particularly important for military spouses who are frequently deployed to remote places with few job opportunities but can otherwise contribute to the federal civilian workforce.
Greene amendment 167, Boebert amendments 155 and 156, Fallon amendment 161, and Roy amendment 178 would invoke the so-called Holman Rule to either reduce to $1.00 the annual salaries of various DoD officials. These cynical amendments, if enacted, would do great damage to the Department's ability to maintain readiness and recruit and retain personnel who reflect the diversity of America.
Rosendale amendments 176 and 184 would strip the Defense Department of its authority to set policy as it pertains to the prevention of COVID-19. These amendments are singularly irresponsible and reckless. Enactment would risk the health of tens of thousands of DoD military personnel and civilian employees in the event of a future COVID-19 outbreak--all to make a cynical political point. Senior Defense Department officers and medical personnel are in a much better position than Congress to determine appropriate measures to protect the health of military personnel and civilian employees.
Norman amendment 172 would, if enacted, reverse important strides the Defense Department--one of the least diverse agencies in the federal government--has made in recent years to recruit and retain the best and the brightest personnel from all corners of America.
AFGE recommends that you support amendment 159 that will be offered by Rep. Connolly (D-VA). This amendment would restore important language included in previous Defense Appropriations Acts prohibiting the Defense Department from reducing its civilian workforce absent the appropriate analysis of the effects of these reductions on workload, military force structure, lethality, readiness, operational effectiveness, stress on the military force, and fully burdened costs. By omitting the provision that Rep. Connolly's amendment proposes to restore, H.R. 4365, if enacted, could lead to reckless cuts in the civilian workforce that the armed services depend on to protect and defend our nation.
Please vote against these amendments should recorded votes be requested. For questions or more information please contact Julie Tippens or Keith Abouchar. Sincerely, Julie N. Tippens, Director, Legislative Department.
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Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.
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Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chair, I yield the balance of my time to the distinguished gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).
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Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
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