Providing for Consideration of H.R. 5136, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gen tle lady's courtesy.
I rise in support of the rule. I am pleased that we are going to be allowed to debate the wisdom of having two jet engines for the Joint Strike Fighter. I strongly hope the amendment that I have cosponsored along with Mr. Larsen is in fact approved, adding $485 million to reduce the deficit. It is an issue that I feel deserves debate, and I think people looking at it on the merits will understand that we don't need a second engine, that we can agree with the Secretary of Defense of the administration, and indeed the previous administration.
I am, however, a little frustrated that we continue to shortchange our efforts to deal with the toxic legacy of unexploded ordnances from military operations in the United States on our soil for the last 200 years. I had attempted to have a minor amendment to at least have the Department of Defense tell people in the community what the risks are from these toxic chemicals, from fuels, from unexploded ordnance. People who are building schools, child care centers, and housing developments have a right to know what could happen, particularly since we are underfunding cleanup.
The gen tle lady who is managing the rule is going to have another 50 years before the last site is cleaned up in her district--better than waiting for 200 years. We can do better.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source