Summary of Amendments Submitted to the Rules Committee on
H.R. 1588 - NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004
RULE TO PROVIDE FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1588, AND AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER
May 20, 2003 (1:26 p.m.)
Ackerman #23
Encourages the Department of Defense and the Navy to engage with the government of Israel and the Israel Defense Forces to establish appropriate and effective arrangements to ensure the safety of U.S. Navy vessels and personnel, and subsequently, to resume regular port visits to Haifa, Israel, by the U.S. Sixth Fleet.
Allen #43
Transfers $466 million from certain long-range ballistic missile defense programs to the Iraqi Freedom Fund to promote stability and security in Iraq, and to secure Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. Allows the President to waive the transfer if he certifies that the overall potential long-range ballistic missile threat to the United States has not decreased as a result of the liberation of Iraq.
Bishop, Rob (UT)/Jones, Walter (NC)/Kingston/Bradley #90
Requires the determination of the BRAC Commission regarding privatization-in-place at a facility to be closed, be through a unanimous vote of the Commission. (Late)
Bishop, Rob (UT)/Jones, Walter (NC)/Kingston/Bradley #91
Clarifies that the Defense Department must abide by current depot maintenance contract law provisions when developing its list of BRAC candidates, and that it must retain a core depot maintenance capability sufficient to support the base force as previously identified. (Late)
Blumenauer #98
Allows the Secretary of the Navy to convey approximately 14 acres in Portland, Oregon comprising the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center to the United Parcel Service. (Late)
Bordallo #11
Forgives $550,000 owed by the Government of Guam in fiscal year 2004 for use of water from Fena Reservoir. Reduces unspecified Navy military construction projects worldwide by the same amount. (Revised)
Brown, Henry (SC) #27
Expands the Department of Defense Excess Personal Property Disposal Program to include health agencies in addition to law enforcement and firefighting agencies. The transfer could only take place if the property was excess to the needs of the Defense Department and suitable for use in providing fire and emergency medical services or in responding to health or environmental emergencies.
Brown, Henry (SC) #28
Directs the Department of Defense to consult with the Department of Veterans Affairs before the construction of any military medical treatment facility to consider the feasibility of constructing a joint DoD/VA facility. Requires that both Secretaries would have to agree to a joint proposal for it to be submitted to the relevant Congressional committees, and that the cost would be no more than the cost of respective single-use facilities. Only applies to facilities proposed to be built in the United States, and its territories and possessions.
Cooper/Davis, Danny (IL)/Van Hollen #34
States the sense of Congress that the Department of Defense needs some new flexibility to adapt to today’s security
and employment environment, but that in any new system fundamental employee rights must be protected in any
new system. Lists fundamental employee rights to be protected. Requires the Defense Department to bargain in
good faith and requires any national-level bargaining to be resolved by an impartial panel or other dispute resolution
procedure. Adds additional protections to employees by strengthening any new appeals process.
Cox #99
Repeals MTOPS requirement. Requires the President to consult with various Congressional committees before implementing regulations concerning any new export administration system for high-performance computers that replace the current MTOPS measurement. Requires the President to issue new regulations to replace MTOPS within 120 days of enactment of the legislation. (Late)
Crenshaw #33
Transfers certain vessels from the Maritime Administration to the Beauchamp Tower Corporation (a not-for-profit corporation) for use as moored support ships and as memorials to the Fulton and Victory-class ships. The Beauchamp Tower Corporation would then use the ships in their National Emergency Urban Interface Program, which uses unique facilities to provide free training for both private industry and local/state/federal government emergency responders.
Davis, Susan (CA) #77
Directs that, beginning in 2007, military pay raises shall be equal to civilian wage growth as measured by the Employment Cost Index, a rate generated by the U.S. Department of Labor. Allows the President to suspend the provision in times of serious national emergency or economic conditions. (Late)
Davis, Tom (VA) #76
Establishes the President’s new Human Capital Performance Fund, to be administered by OPM, to enable agencies to reward their highest performing and most valuable employees. Limits human capital performance payment to an individual employee to 10% of the employee’s basic pay rate. Authorizes $500 million for FY 04 and such sums as necessary in subsequent years. (Late)
Davis, Tom (VA) #79
Expands the authorization of the use of share-in savings contracts contained in the E-government Act of 2002 beyond information technology and provides for the use of such contract whenever proper approvals are granted and would further provide for amendments to certain government-wide procurement activities for defense against terror to clarify them and make them permanent. (Late)
Davis, Tom (VA) #80
Provides for amendments to certain government-wide procurement authorities for defense against terror to clarify them and make them permanent. (Late)
Davis, Tom (VA) #84
Amends the reporting requirements of the Secretary of Defense’s plans for housing privatization activities. Requires a description of plans for the coming year and future years, in addition to a description of activities undertaken in the previous year. (Late)
DeFazio/Paul #20
Prohibits any funds authorized in the bill from being used for the deployment of elements of the Armed Forces into hostilities outside the United States, or into situations where imminent involvement of hostilities outside the United States is clearly indicated by the circumstances, unless the deployment is made in accordance with the war powers granted to Congress by the U.S. Constitution.
Dicks #5
Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to convey land on the eastern end of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard to the city of Bremerton, WA.
Dreier/Lofgren #96
Removes Million Theoretical Operations Per Second (MTOPS) as the standard for the approval of high-performance computer exports. Requires the President to consult with the relevant House and Senate Committees in implementing any regulations affecting the export administration system for high-performance computers. Provides that no later than 30 days after the implementation of such regulations, the President shall submit a report to Congress that identifies the functions of the relevant national security and intelligence agencies impacted by the regulations, and explains how the regulations will effectively advance the national security objectives of the United States.
Farr #15
WITHDRAWN. Strikes provisions altering the Endangered Species Act (Section 317) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (Section 318).
Farr #16
Makes permanent a demonstration project in Monterey, California that allows Department of Defense installations to contract with the City of Monterey for the provision of municipal services.
Frost #68
Requires full refund of tuition and fees to college students who serve in the Reserves and National Guard that are called up for active duty in the U.S. military. Also ensures that the student retains his or her education status. (Late)
Frost #72
Changes three provisions of immigration law to make it easier for non-citizens serving in the U.S. Armed Forces to become naturalized citizens. (Late).
Frost #97
Treats civilian employees of the Department of Defense serving in a combat zone as the same as military personnel serving in a combat zone for tax purposes. Provides an exclusion from gross wages for income earned by civilian DoD employees while they served in a combat zone, was hospitalized as a result of serving in a combat zone, or was missing as a result of such service. Also ensures that additional estate tax will not apply and that there will be no tax on telephone calls originating in a combat zone for civilian DoD employees serving in a combat zone. (Late)
Gilchrest #3
Sense of Congress that the Secretary of the Interior use the three part test described in DOD guidelines for implementation of Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan’s (INRMP), which states that when INRMP’s are substituted for Critical Habitat designation under the ESA special management criteria are to be applied and include the following: the plan provides a conservation benefit to the species; the plan provides certainty that the management plan will be implemented; and the plan provides certainty that the conservation effort will be effective.
Goode #1
Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to assign members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, under certain circumstances and subject to certain conditions, to assist the Department of Homeland Security in the performance of border protections functions.
Goss #36
Requires the Secretary of Defense to report on appropriate steps that could be taken by the Department of Defense in response to nations that attempt to commence legal proceedings against any current or former official or employee of the United States relating to the performance of official duties.
Goss #54
Requires a study by the Secretary of Defense to conduct an assessment of U.S. costs associated with the location of the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Brussels, Belgium, and the costs and benefits of relocating the headquarters to a suitable location in another NATO member country, including those nations invited to join NATO at the Prague summit in 2002. (Revised)
Hastings, Alcee (FL) #64
Strikes the repeal of Department of Defense reporting requirements in Title 10, U.S.C., on the President’s objectives when armed forces are deployed, on costs of military operations, and on the management of the civilian workforce.
Hefley/Gallegly #19
Establishes a 2-year pilot program to improve the use of Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard Modular Airborne Fire-Fighting Systems to fight wildfires by waiving the Economy Act of 1934, which requires federal firefighters to exhaust all private and commercial sources of materiel before they can access military equipment or personnel for use in fighting forest wildfires, for 2 years.
Hefley #37
Requires the Secretary of Defense, through the Secretary of each military department, to ensure that, whenever there is reason to believe that a felony offense may have occurred on the grounds of a service academy, that appropriate State and local authorities be notified of the matter and granted full cooperation in the investigation of the matter. The Secretary for the military department concerned shall ensure that appropriate State and local authorities have the ability to brign a prosecution in the criminal courts of the local jurisdiction. Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report by December 31 of each year to the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Armed Services specifying the number, status, and outcome of investigations and prosecutions of felony offenses that occurred at each service academy for the proceeding fiscal year.
Hefley/Ortiz #59
Strikes Section 317(a), and would leave the section of the Endangered Species Act in its present form (i.e., “prudent and determinable”). Strikes Section 318(a), and would confine the new definition of “harassment” to “military readiness activity.”
Hobson #63
Requires that Department of Defense purchases subject to the Buy American Act be at least 65 percent domestic content, instead of the current 50 percent.
Hoeffel #7
Requires that regulations relating to the conduct of military tribunals be submitted to Congress for review. Regulations would take effect 60 days after the President submits them to Congress, unless Congress passes a Joint Resolution of Disapproval. Requires the President to submit periodic reports to Congress on the activities of ongoing military tribunals.
Hoeffel #8
Requires the President to submit reports every 6 months to Congress regarding military tribunals. The reports shall include an identification of the accused and the offenses charged. The reports shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
Hoeffel #9
Requires the President to submit an annual report on the number of strategic nuclear warheads that have been dismantled in the previous calendar year and that will be dismantled in the coming year. The requirement would commence upon completion of the Moscow Treaty.
Hoeffel #13
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of the Army should demolish the Tacony Warehouse in accordance with the fiscal year 2001 Department of Defense Appropriations Act.
Holt #29
Authorizes the Army, through its Communications and Electronics Research Development Center, within the Army Materiel Command to receive and retain funds as reimbursement from the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority in order to provide rapid deployment of enhanced homeland security measures.
Hostettler #48
Delays implementation of the Buy America provision relating to the packaging of Meals-Ready-To-Eat (MREs) for one year to allow producers time to transition to new supplies and production line equipment.
Hostettler #49
Strikes Buy America provision relating to the packaging of Meals-Ready-To-Eat (MREs).
Hunter #73
Makes technical changes and includes clarification that no employee of DoD Inspector General who was transferred to a Special Court of the United Nations shall be subject to Hatch Act enforcement. Also makes a change regarding sole source contracts. (Late)
Hunter #74
Directs the Secretary of State to identify immediate proliferation threats amenable to being addressed by the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund to ensure that adequate funding is available for the Nonproliferation Fund in the future. (Late)
Hunter #75
Sense of Congress regarding changes within NATO (i.e., the expansion to include former Soviet-bloc member states). Asks President to reevaluate U.S. defense posture in Europe in order to take maximum advantage of basing and training ops in the territory of new NATO members. (Late)
Inslee #44
Requires that the Department of Energy, when disposing of low-level radioactive wastes in landfills, that such landfills be compliant with the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act. Allows for a waiver of the requirement upon consent of the State in which the wastes are dumped, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Energy.
Jackson-Lee #69
Directs the Secretary of Defense to commission a study on the use of small businesses, minority-owned businesses, and women-owned businesses in the efforts to rebuild Iraq. (Late)
Jackson-Lee #70
Directs the Secretary of Defense to commission a study on the feasibility of ceasing the use of cluster bombs in all armed combat by the United States Armed Forces. (Late)
Jackson-Lee #71
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Marshall Plan for Europe was model of economic diplomacy and that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a vital role in reducing hunger, homelessness, etc. Also establishes that it shall be the policy of the U.S. to implement a “Marshall Plan” in the efforts to rebuild Iraq, including the use of NGOs. (Late)
Kingston #26
Defines the disposition of public access roads in the event that a military installation is closed. Specifies that these public access roads remain a public access road after a closure.
Kingston #58
Amends Section 2469 of Title 10, U.S.C., to provide a waiver for depot-level maintenance and repair workload when the workload is performed under a public-private partnership at a Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence.
Kirk #18
Requires Congressional approval of any Veterans Administration medical facility project involving resource sharing between the VA and the Department of Defense (as defined in the fiscal year 2003 National Defense Authorization Act) that costs over $8 million. Current law requires Congressional approval of any VA medical facility project over $4 million. Also provides greater flexibility for the use of such funds.
Kline #25
Grants the Secretary of Education specific wavier authority within Title IV of the Higher Education Act to provide relief to those affected by the recent military mobilization and any unforeseen issues that may arise. Waivers granted by the Secretary may allow for reservists leaving their job may be relieved from student loan payments for a time, borrowers may be relieved from receiving collection calls from lenders, and consecutive service requirements for loan forgiveness programs may be considered uninterrupted. Provides the Secretary with the authority to implement waivers deemed necessary and not yet contemplated. Expires on September 30, 2005. Requires the Secretary of Education to report to Congress on the impact of the waivers implemented as a result of this amendment.
Lantos #78
Strikes the repeal of a reporting requirement contained in section 656 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. The section 656 report, filed jointly by the Secretaries of State and Defense, provides information regarding U.S. foreign military training programs abroad. This provision is within the jurisdiction of the Committee on International Relations was addressed in the recently reported Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005 and was addressed in the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003. (Late)
Lantos/Loretta Sanchez/Bell/Wexler #85
Subject to appropriation, requires that the employing agency of a federal employee pay the employee the difference between his or her civilian and military salary. Also subject to appropriation, establishes a cost-sharing formula allowing State and local governments that decide to pay their Reservist employees the difference between their civilian and military salaries shall be able to petition the Secretary of Defense for a reimbursement of a portion of those costs. (Late)
LoBiondo #47
Requires the Department of Defense to report to Congress on Military Construction requirements, both inside and outside of the Five Year Defense Plan, necessary to support homeland defense missions of the U.S. military.
Maloney #35
Requires the position of Chief Acquisition Officer be held by a career professional.
Maloney/Turner #55
Modifies Section 1451 to require civilian executive agencies to comply with federal procurement processes and procedures when carrying out certain prototype projects.
Markey #14
Modifies the Missile Defense Act of 1999 to limit deployment of a missile defense system until the President certifies that the system is technologically feasible; the system is effective against countermeasures; cost of the system will not deplete resources for other defense priorities; the system will not diminish overall national security; the system will not disrupt relations with our allies; the threat of a long-range missile attack has been demonstrated. The missile defense system could be deployed once a presidential certification has been made and a law has been enacted specifically authorizing such deployment.
Michaud #56
Amends Section 2533a of Title 10, U.S.C., to ensure that “an item containing or made of leather” purchased by the Department of Defense is made in the U.S. from U.S. components.
Nadler #39
Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a study to Congress examining the costs and benefits of purchasing all the ex-Soviet weapons-grade uranium and plutonium in fiscal year 2005, and safeguarding it from smuggling or theft until can be rendered unusable for weapons.
Nadler #41
Adds $30 billion in funding to the National Nuclear Security Administration for nuclear non-proliferation activities to help purchase and secure excess Russian Plutonium and Highly Enriched Uranium from Russia.
Paul #12
Prohibits members of the U.S. Armed Forces from serving under United Nations or other foreign command.
Petri #21
Provides that no new title XI loan guarantees could be approved by the Maritime Administration at the Department of Transportation until the Department of Transportation’s Inspector General certifies that the recommendations contained in a report issued in March 2003 have been implemented and GAO issues a report on the title XI loan guarantee program (in response to a request made by the Senate Commerce Committee) and the Maritime Administration reports back, within 60 days of receiving the report, the status of implementing recommendations (including why, if appropriate, it is not implementing specific recommendations). (Revised)
Petri #22
Adds a new criterion under the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 for the Maritime Administration in evaluating applications for loan guarantees under title XI. Specifies that no new loan guarantee could be approved unless the Secretary certifies that the guarantee will not threaten the continued viability of an existing operation.
Petri #66
Amends the current Maritime Administration Title XI loan guarantee program to require that when considering a loan application, the Secretary of Transportation must consider the impact on existing equipment (i.e., generally ships) – and not just existing equipment for which a guarantee is in effect as is provided by current law.
Pickering #61
Further amends the Defense Base Closure Realignment Act of 1990, as provided for in H.R. 1588, to exclude from consideration in the next closure round those military installations whose primary mission involves training (including basic, advanced, and undergraduate) of active duty forces.
Pickering #62
WITHDRAWN. Further amends the Defense Base Closure Realignment Act of 1990, as provided for in H.R. 1588, to require that the Secretary, when considering base closures, retain a sufficient level of bases to ensure that the force structure can be increased to 1991 levels within a period of two years should the nation’s security require such an increase.
Porter #60
Requires the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study and review of the effects of perchlorate in drinking water on human beings.
Rahall/Dingell #24
Strikes limitation on Endangered Species Act (ESA) critical habitat designations unrelated to the Department of Defense. Prohibits designation of critical habitat on military lands under the ESA when Defense Department conservation plans for threatened and endangered species meet specified criteria. Clarifies that any impact on national security will be considered when designating critical habitat. Codifies the National Research Council’s 2000 definition of the term “harassment” under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), but only as applicable to military activities. Provides for Defense Department national security exemptions from the MMPA if sought by the President during war or times of declared national emergencies. Strikes changes to MMPA “incidental take” standards. Strikes special exemption from ESA compliance at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.
Rogers, Mike (MI) #93
Requires the Department of Defense to assist Iraqi children who were injured during Operation Iraqi Freedom provided they meet the following criteria: Injuries were the result of Operation Iraqi Freedom; No adequate available treatment is available in Iraq or neighboring countries; There has been completion of a military physician evaluation on the ground to assess the needs of the patient. (Late)
Rogers, Mike (MI) #94
Reduces by 10% the funds authorized by H.R. 1588 to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and provides that funding to a CENTCOM medical care fund in order to provide support to Iraqi children injured during Operation Iraqi Freedom. (Late)
Rogers, Mike (MI) #95
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Department of Defense should provide timely assistance to Iraqi children injured during Operation Iraqi freedom. (Late)
Ryan, Tim (OH) #81
Allows certain Reserves and National Guard members called or ordered to active duty, and their dependents, to retain the option of continuing their private health insurance coverage during the period of active duty, rather than enroll in TRICARE. Amends COBRA coverage rules to specify that loss of employment-based coverage due to active-duty allows them to use the COBRA mechanism to retain their health care coverage. Authorizes the federal government to pay the cost of the premiums under COBRA. CBO estimates cost at $332 to $468 million in fiscal year 2004, an amount that would be offset by reducing funds for National Missile Defense programs. (Late) (Revised)
Sanchez, Linda (CA) #67
Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from entering into contracts with corporate expatriates. Allows the Secretary to waive the prohibition when the Secretary determines that such a waiver is required in the interest of national security.
Sanchez, Loretta (CA) #65
Permits Department of Defense facilities, not located in the United States, to perform abortions.
Saxton #17
Repeals the statutory requirement that an officer serving as defense attache to France must hold, or be on the promotion list, the grade of brigadier general or rear admiral, lower half.
Saxton #89
Provides an increase in one-time funding for research, development, test, and evaluation available for Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrations to evaluate the capability of an elemental detector to provide directional cuing in concentrations of specific elements and compounds. (Late)
Sessions # 57
Directs the Administrator of General Services to establish performance measures to determine the effectiveness of federal property management and to submit to Congress a federal property management plan. Directs the head of each executive agency to monitor their agency’s performance against such measures and report results to Congress. Authorizes the Administrator to enter into agreements for the creation of one or more public-private partnerships to lease real property and to develop, rehabilitate, or renovate facilities on such property for the use by executive agencies. Requires the Administrator to prepare and submit to Congress at least 30 days before entering into such an agreement a business plan regarding each agreement.
Simmons #4
Clarifies that persons who maintain or who seek Defense Security Service (DSS) security clearance may not have served more than one year in jail, rather than current language which disqualifies individuals sentenced to more than one year.
Smith, Adam (WA)/Lofgren #88
Provides the President greater flexibility in developing more effective regulations regarding export control policies for high-end computers by repealing Subtitle B of Title XII of Division A, and Section 3157 of Subtitle D of Title XXXI of Division C, of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 1998. (Late)
Snyder #30
Requires the Secretary of Defense to prescribe guidelines regarding standards of conduct for members of the Defense Policy Board and Defense Science Board. Guidelines would have to include conditions governing access to classified and confidential information and appropriate limitations of such information; guidelines regarding conflicting financial interest and recusal; and guidelines regarding the lobbying of Department of defense officials and other contacts with Defense officials on matters in which the Board members may have a financial interest. Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a copy of the guidelines to the appropriate Congressional committees.
Spratt #46
Restores the President’s requests for Cooperative Threat Reduction programs. Rescinds the transfer of $28.8 million from chemical weapons destruction activities in Russia. Grants the Defense Department authority to spend up to $50 million in prior year unobligated balanced on destruction of weapons of mass destruction outside the former Soviet Union. Establishes a reporting requirement to enhance Cooperative Threat Reduction program accountability to Congress.
Tauscher #32
Transfers $15 million for the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator and the $6 million for additional and exploratory studies under the Advanced Concepts Initiative to conventional programs to defeat hardened and deeply buried targets.
Taylor, Gene (MS) #42
Postpones for two years the round of base closures authorized in current law for 2005. Specifically, postpones until May 16, 2007, the date that the Department of Defense submits to Congress, the BRAC Commission, and publishes in the Federal Register the list of bases and facilities to be closed.
Tierney #86
Reaffirms current law (Section 217, P.L. 105-85) that specifies that the Defense Department’s working estimates and Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) shall comply with the congressional cap on productions funds for the F/A-22. (Late)
Tierney #87
Expands the scope of the Assessment of United States Defense Industrial Base Capabilities to include the business rationale for transferring the contracted work overseas, and the percentage of the total contract award that is to be performed outside the country. Requires the Secretary to make recommendations as to how the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Capabilities can be strengthened. (Late)
Turner, Mike (OH)/Ryan, Tim (OH) #31
Directs the Secretary of Defense to assist the United States Air and Trade Show, Incorporated to study with that organization the feasibility of establishing a United States international air and trade show. Authorizes the Secretary to spend up to $1 million in matching funds to conduct and implement recommendations derived from the feasibility study.
Upton #2
Clarifies that reservists would qualify for combat pay when called up in the event of a terrorist attack.
Vitter #38
Strikes section 3111 which modifies the current repeal on research and development relating to low-yield nuclear weapons. Repeals Section 3136 of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 1994, which prohibits research and development on low-yield nuclear weapons.
Vitter #50
Establishes as policy that a land-based and sea-based national defense system be deployed as soon as technologically possible to protect United States territory.
Vitter #51
States that the United States is to deploy a missile defense system capable of defending Israel, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and members of NATO.
Vitter #52
Designates the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, as “America’s National World War II Museum.”
Vitter #53
Prohibits freight forwarding companies organized under the laws of countries that publicly expressed opposition to the provisional Security Council resolution regarding Iraq introduced on March 7, 2003, from receiving funding from the Department of Defense for services related to construction or reconstruction activities within Iraq or Afghanistan.
Vitter #82
Under the Maritime Security Program, allows existing vessels to be documented under United States flag provided that the telecommunications and other electronic equipment of such vessels meets internationally accepted standards. Currently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires that all such equipment be type-approved by the FCC, a regulation that does not apply to foreign flag vessels in U.S. waters. This amendment would remove that requirement.
Vitter #83
Qualifies U.S. flag vessels to participate in the carriage of Iraqi bound reconstruction-related cargo. The bill provides that only U.S. flag vessels that have been under U.S. flag for 3 years be given preference over non-U.S. flag vessels for this cargo. (Late)
Waxman #10
Ensures that no sole-source contract for more than $1 million entered into under the authority granted by Section 1441 and 1444 of the bill would be exempt from the Truth in Negotiations Act and Cost Accounting Standards.
Weldon, Curt (PA) #6
States that it shall be the policy of the U.S. to create a new national security strategic framework with the United Kingdom in order to expand and strengthen cooperation on defense programs.
Weldon, Curt (PA) #45
Requires the Secretary of Energy to submit a report to Congress on the use of funds appropriated for threat reduction and non-proliferation programs in Russia and the Former Soviet Union. The report will include a description of the use of such funds and the manner in which such funds are being monitored, an accounting of the financial commitment made by Russia, a description of the efforts made by the U.S. to encourage Russia to continue to maintain its financial commitment, and a description of the access provided by Russia to the U.S. to the facilities. Establishes a Duma-Congress nuclear threat reduction working-group to explore ways to enhance cooperation in nuclear non-proliferation and security. Membership would include 10 Senators and 30 Representatives. Declares it to be U.S. policy for the U.S. to work with NATO to enter into appropriate cooperative relationships with Russia in development and deployment of theater-level ballistic missile defense to increase transparency and confidence in a new strategic framework that is not rooted in mutually assured destruction. Declares it to be U.S. policy to encourage joint efforts by the U.S. and Russia to reduce the chances of a Russian nuclear attack anywhere in the world as a result of misinformation or miscalculation by further development of the Russia-American Observation Satellite (RAMOS) program.
Weldon, Curt (PA) #92
Declares it to be U.S. policy to seek to cooperate with Russia and the independent states of the former Soviet Union in order to effect as quickly as is reasonably practical basic security measures at all their nuclear weapons and materials storage facilities. Requires the National Academy of Sciences will carry out an analysis of the effect on threat reduction and non-proliferation programs of applicable congressional oversight. Requires a report from the Secretary of Energy on the use of funds appropriated for threat reduction and non-proliferation programs in Russia and the former Soviet Union. Requires the President to prepare and submit a plan to secure and destroy all chemical and biological weapons, and the chemical and biological materials designed for use in such weapons that are located in Russia and the former Soviet Union. Declares it to be U.S. policy to seek to work with Russia to create comprehensive inventories of weapons-grade materials and assembled warheads, with particular attention paid to tactical or “non-strategic” warheads and weapons that are no longer operationally deployed. Establishes a Duma-Congress nuclear threat reduction working group to explore ways to enhance cooperation in terms of nuclear non-proliferation and security. The Membership will include 10 Senators and 30 Representatives. Declares it to be U.S. policy for the U.S. to work with NATO to enter into appropriate cooperative relationships with Russia in development and deployment of theater-level ballistic missile defenses. Declares it to be U.S. policy to encourage joint efforts by the U.S. and Russia to reduce the chances of a Russian nuclear attack anywhere in the world as a result of misinformation or miscalculation by further development of the Russia-American Observation Satellite (RAMOS) program. Creates a cooperative venture known as the Teller-Kurchatov Alliance for Peace to develop and promote peaceful, safe and environmentally sensitive uses of nuclear strategy. Creates the Teller-Kurchatov 2 year non-proliferation fellowship for scientists employed at the Kurchatov Institute and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. States that the U.S. should seek to initiate discussions between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development for the purpose of exploring issues of nuclear and radiological security and safety. (Late)
Woolsey #40
Requires the Department of Defense to develop a joint service entity to continue to support armed forces peacekeeping needs, a function previously performed by the Army’s Peacekeeping Institute in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
* Summaries derived from information submitted by the amendment sponsors.
