Department Of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010

Floor Speech

Department Of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010

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Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Chair. I rise today in strong support of this bill. The Defense Appropriations bill funds a number of research and education programs, but most importantly it provides for the defense of our nation and for the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces.

This bill includes a pay raise and other benefits for our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines, making sure we provide them what they need and deserve. It provides a 3.4 percent military pay increase and $122.4 billion to fully fund the requested end strength levels for personnel. The bill continues efforts to end the practice of ``stop loss'' and includes funding to pay troops $500 for every month their term of service is involuntarily extended in 2010.

The bill also provides for those that have been injured defending our country by including $500 million for traumatic brain injury and psychological health. The bill also includes a total of $2.2 billion for the wounded, ill and injured programs. The bill includes $636 million for peer-reviewed research programs: $150 million for breast cancer research; $80 million for prostate cancer research; $30 million for orthopedic research; $25 million for ovarian cancer research; $15 million for spinal cord research; and $10 million for ALS research.

I would also like to express support for the inclusion of The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM.) Initiative to be administered by HoustonWorks USA. Federal support is necessary, because this program will support the national agenda to promote STEM programs and increase exposure to careers in engineering among at-risk or hard-to-serve youth, an untapped human resource in our country's quest to increase the numbers of American engineers. The outcome of STEM awareness programs like this one is part of the process to grow the engineering pipeline, a critical step to answer some of the world's most important questions in science today. This project will benefit numerous individuals in the 29th District, and I thank the Committee for including funding for the project.

I am disappointed, however, funding was not included for restoration of the Battleship Texas. The historic Battleship Texas is the only surviving naval vessel that served in both World War I & II. In order to keep her from deteriorating further, the Battleship Texas Foundation in conjunction with the Parks and Wildlife Department, will permanently remove the USS Texas from the water and construct a dry berth at a cost of $29,000,000--we have secured funding in the past to assist with this project, but did not receive funding this year for our request. I ask that the Chair reconsider as future bills move forward, and I look forward to working with him on this project.

Madam Chair, overall this is a good bill that provides for the defense of our nation, our troops and their families, and a number of other critical projects and research initiatives. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3326.

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