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STATEMENT BY SENATOR JOHN McCAIN ON SENATE PASSAGE OF THE FY 2013 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
December 4, 2012
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) today issued the following statement on Senate passage of the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act:
“Over the past week, my colleagues and I in the Senate have worked diligently to pass the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 for the 51st consecutive year. I am pleased with the results. We have had an open amendment process that resulted in 397 amendments filed on this bill. Of that number, we were able to dispose of 145 amendments.
“I thank the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader for the opportunity to work, alongside Chairman Levin, with all my colleagues to address their interests in this bill. Our efforts demonstrate that when it comes to addressing the issues important to the men and women in uniform, the Senate can work together in a bipartisan manner. The bill contains many vital provisions that would provide for the continued readiness of our armed forces and the well-being of their families, military construction, military compensation, acquisition and contracting, and important national security objectives around the world.
“It also provides the resources, training, equipment, and authorities necessary for our military to succeed in Afghanistan and provides continued support to the Afghanistan National Security Forces as they assume increased responsibility throughout Afghanistan.
“In addition, this bill provides a 1.7 percent pay raise for military personnel, and over 30 types of pay aimed at encouraging enlistment and retention in the world’s greatest military force. It strengthens the Department’s programs to prevent the crime of sexual assault and will improve the care and management of wounded warriors and those in transition to civilian life following their military service.
“This bill also contains many provisions intended to improve oversight on defense contracting that are in vital need of reform, including helping to detect and prevent human trafficking in government contracting. In the bill, there are also provisions that would help ensure that the Department of Defense becomes fully auditable by 2017, as required under law, and improve how the Department manages its procurement of large business systems that it needs to become fully auditable. Other provisions would help reform how the federal government procures what it needs when conducting contingency operations and ensure that certain whistleblowers who identify waste, fraud and abuse are protected.
“This bill also increases transparency into and oversight of shipbuilding programs, including the Ford class aircraft carrier and Littoral Combat Ship.
“We have also included important amendments on cybersecurity, including a requirement for consultation with Congress if a decision is made to establish U.S. Cybercommand as a unified command.
“We also have included a series of provisions related to the realignment of our forces in the Asia Pacific Region to ensure our plans are affordable and workable.
“This is a critically important bill and I am gratified by its adoption.”
SUMMARY: AMENDMENTS SPONSORED BY SENATOR McCAIN
Syria: This amendment requires the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to submit a comprehensive report identifying the limited military activities that could deny or significantly degrade the ability of Bashar Assad and his loyalists to use air power against civilians and opposition groups in Syria. This provision explicitly notes that it neither authorizes the use of military force nor serves as a declaration of war against Syria.
Overseas Diplomatic Security: This amendment authorizes an increase of up to 1,000 additional Marine Corps personnel assigned to the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group. The tragic events in Benghazi on September 11, 2012 and the ongoing tumult throughout the Middle East and North Africa serve as stark reminders that the security environment confronting American personnel serving in U.S. embassies and consulates abroad is as dangerous as ever. This amendment will provide for the end-strength and resources necessary to support an increase in Marine Corps security throughout the world and, in particular, at locations identified by the Secretary of State to be at risk of terrorist attack.
Guam – Report on Strategy and Budget: This amendment requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress a report on the investment plan to obtain the resources needed to carry out the U.S. strategy in Asia. There remain many unanswered questions about the Department’s plan for the realignment of U.S. military forces in the Asia Pacific Region. The Center for Strategic and International Studies released a report in August 2012 that raised concerns about whether the plans and strategy proposed by the Department earlier this year are adequately supported by budgets and resources in future years.
Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act Reauthorization: This amendment gives priority to the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Coast Guard to acquire excess aircraft from the United States Air Force after they have been deemed surplus equipment. It allows the Forest Service to obtain several aircraft that it desperately needs to fill a significant gap in its overall fire suppression strategy. This amendment is supported by the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Ship Naming: This amendment sets forth standards, grounded in historical practice, to guide the Secretary of the Navy’s decisions on future vessel naming. It requires that the Secretary seek the approval of the Senate and House Committees on Armed Services before announcing or assigning a vessel’s name.
Authorize Denied New Starts: This amendment provides the legally required authorization for which approval was denied in reprogramming requests. It also provides the Secretary of Defense some discretion to transfer certain funds between FY 12 and FY 13 accounts to better manage those dollars saved through better business practices.
Afghanistan Risk Assessment: This amendment would require the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to submit to Congress an assessment of the risk to our mission and security interests associated with a reduction of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
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