National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006 -- (House of Representatives - May 25, 2005)

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Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Chairman, I certainly would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) for their leadership on this amendment.

I think the important issue before us today is that if women were to serve in direct ground combat positions, if that be the decision of the Congress, then I think the amendment before us today does that.

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Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Chairman, first let me thank the gentleman from California for his leadership and hard work on this issue and for drafting an amendment that confirms Congress' constitutional duty to oversee the military. Any decision to allow women to serve in direct ground combat is a decision that must be made by Congress.

Our men and women in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and around the world are serving our Nation with distinction and honor. In the Global War on Terror, there are no designated front lines and at any moment even a mess hall can become a combat zone.

The jobs that place our military members in direct ground combat are currently closed to women.

The amendment before us today will allow congressional oversight in any decision to open direct ground combat specialties to women by requiring notification by the Defense Secretary and Congress. It also requires a report from the Secretary in March of 2006 which will allow Congress to further explore this issue.

Let me be clear, this amendment does not impact any specialties currently open to women. All women will continue serving in their current roles. Any change in current roles would be completely unacceptable.

I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

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