Press Releases

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett Applauds Swift Bipartisan Fix to Veto of the Defense Authorization Bill

Washington, Jan 16 -

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett today said, “It is a good and hopeful start to the New Year for Congress to quickly and cooperatively fix the problems with the vital Defense Authorization bill. The American people want Congressional Republicans and Democrats to work with the President to solve problems. I hope it will serve as a model and inspiration for how we will address future issues this year.”

The House today approved a new version of the defense bill, H.R. 4986. It includes a bicameral, bipartisan revision that satisfies objections to a provision by the President in the original bill, H.R. 1585. Those objections concerned Sec. 1083 that might have frozen the assets of the current Iraqi government as penalty for actions taken by Saddam Hussein’s regime. It also ensures that military service personnel will receive the full 3.5 percent pay raise for 2008 retroactive to January 1, 2008. Senate approval and the President’s signature are anticipated.

On December 12, 2007, the House approved H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 by an overwhelming vote of 370-49. H.R. 1585 authorizes $506.9 billion in discretionary budget authority for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the national security programs of the Department of Energy. Additionally, the legislation authorizes $189.4 billion in supplemental funding to support current operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the Global War on Terrorism.

Congressman Bartlett noted that, “This bipartisan defense bill contains farsighted provisions, which I believe are critical to this nation’s future security. I believe the most strategic, visionary provision is the requirement that it is the policy of the United States to utilize nuclear propulsion for future major naval combatants. It is a vital step to secure our nation’s national and energy security. Nuclear propulsion for naval ships is the right thing to do from economic, combat effectiveness, homeland defense, and energy policy perspectives. Without Congressional action, budgetary pressures would forever prevent the Navy from making this farsighted commitment to its own future.”