Recent Legislative Accomplishments
MILITARY PERSONNEL
Condemned Iraqi Prisoner Abuse
(H. Res. 627). The resolution deplores, on behalf of the House, the abuse of Iraqi prisoners in U.S. custody, while stating that such abuse should not detract from the sacrifices of American troops in Iraq. The measure urges the Army to conduct a thorough investigation into all allegations of prisoner abuse in Iraq, and to address "chain of command deficiencies" that might have led to the reported prisoner abuse. Finally, it notes that Congress was not informed about the abuses until they had been disclosed by the media. - Agreed to by recorded vote: (Roll No. 150).
Opposed to Decommissioning of Naval Reserves F/A-18 Squadron
Fought in opposition to the president's budget that decommissions a Naval Reserve F/A-18 squadron and cuts 1,900 billets from the Naval Reserve in FY04.
Supported the President's Budget Request for new Raptors and Joint Strike Fighters
Fought in support of the president's budget request for: F/A-22 Raptor, and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Fought for Additional Training Facilities at Fort Benning
Fought for the Army Maneuver Center Combat Training Operations Concept at Fort Benning.
Supported Tax Fairness
Cosponsored H.R. 1664, Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act of 2003, which provides a special rule for members of the uniformed services in determining the exclusion of gain from the sale of a principal residence and to restore the tax-exempt status of death gratuity payments to members of the uniformed services. Agreed to by voice vote.
Commended Troops and Leaders for Iraqi Operation
Supported H. Con. Res. 177, which expresses Congress's highest commendation and appreciation to the members of the U.S. armed forces who participated in the military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. - Agreed to by recorded vote: (2/3 required): 406 - 2, 8 Present (Roll no. 237).
Fought for Tax Relief for Armed Services
Fought for House amendments to Senate amendments to Relief for Working Families Tax Act (H.R. 1308), which extends through 2010 the increase in the child tax credit to $1,000, and increases the amount that low-income families may be refunded. The bill also includes a number of provisions intended to reduce the tax liability for members of the armed services.
Fought for Increased Benefits
Cosponsored H.R. 2569, Salute to Veterans and the Armed Forces Act of 2003, to improve benefits for members of the armed forces and veterans and for their dependents and survivors.
Fought for Survivor Benefits
Cosponsored H.R. 548 to amend Title 10, United States Code, to increase the minimum survivor benefit plan basic annuity for surviving spouses age 62 and older, to provide for a one-year open season under that plan, and for other purposes.
Worked for Lower Insurance Costs
Cosponsored H.R. 1466 to reduce the health insurance costs for family coverage of military reservists called to active duty.
Supported Cost-of-Living Adjustment
Supported H.R. 1683, which provides an annual cost-of-living increase, effective December 1, for disability compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabilities, and dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans. - Agreed to by recorded vote: (2/3 required): 426 - 0 (Roll no. 209).
Fought for Home Loans
Fought for the Selected Reserve Home Loan Equity Act (H.R. 1257) to permanently authorize the Veterans Affairs Department's guaranteed home loan program for reservists. - Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 428 - 0 (Roll no. 210).
Worked for Disability Compensation
Opposed changes to VA services-connected disability compensation discussed in the context of the Defense Department authorization bill.
Veterans Brain Trust
Co-hosted with Congresswoman Corrine Brown the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference's Veterans Brain Trust. This forum, entitled "The Path to Glory: Congressional Medal of Honor, Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Cross Recipients," addressed veterans issues and featured African-American military heroes.
Fought Against BRAC
Fought against military base closures under BRAC while supporting military industrial activities.
Fought for Wounded Service Members
Cosponsored and fought for legislation to permanently exempt service members injured in combat or training from being billed for food while hospitalized (H.R. 2998). - Passed by recorded vote of 399 - 0 (Roll no. 537).
Iraq Resolution (H. Res. 557)
Affirms that the United States and the world have been made safer with the removal of Saddam Hussein and his regime from power in Iraq; commends the Iraqi people for their courage in the face of "unspeakable oppression and brutality" inflicted on them by Hussein's regime; commends the Iraqi people on the adoption of Iraq's interim constitution; commends the members of the U.S. armed forces and coalition forces for liberating Iraq; and expresses gratitude for their valiant service. - Agreed to by recorded vote: 327 - 93, 7 Present (Roll no. 64).
Fought for Defense Department Personnel in Labor Disputes
Fought against a new Defense Department proposal to modify procedures for resolving labor-management disputes for the next six years.
Healthy Troops Act, H.R. 4346
Sponsored this important legislation which: clarifies Congress's 1997 mandate that the Department of Defense provide full hands-on pre- and post- deployment medical exams and perform record keeping; authorizes a study of the effectiveness of the self- administered pre- and post- deployment assessment; and continues providing oversight to ensure compliance with pre- and post- deployment policies and procedures. 118 cosponsors as of 6/21/04.
MILITARY BASES
Base Assets – Encroachment
Worked in support of readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative, which seeks to protect critical assets from encroachment.
MILITARY FUNDING
Supported the Defense Authorization Conference Agreement for FY 2005
Authorizes $422.2 billion, plus $25 billion in response to the president's request for additional funding for operations in Iraq. It authorizes $10.2 billion for missile defense, 13% more than the current funding level; mandates an increase of 39,000 in the number of active-duty Army and Marine Corps personnel; postpones the scheduled 2005 round of base closures until at least 2007; and provides a 3.5 % pay hike for military personnel. - On passage Passed by recorded vote: 391 - 34 (Roll no. 206).
Supported the Defense Authorization Conference Agreement for FY 2004
The agreement authorizes $401.3 billion for defense programs, approximately $834 million more than the president's request and roughly $1.2 billion more than provided for by the budget resolution for FY 2004 (H. Con. Res. 95). The total is almost $8.4 billion more than the current authorized level of $392.9 billion -- not including $62.5 billion in FY 2003 emergency supplemental defense funds appropriated as part of the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act (PL 108-11).
108th Congress Appropriations
Logistics - Dougherty County – MCLB Albany - Support MATCOM logistics activity - $1,000,000
Construction - Muscogee County - National Infantry Museum - Fort Benning - Infantry Museum Construction - $8,500,000
Construction - Muscogee County - Fort Benning Ft. - Benning Ammunition Access Road - $3,000,000
Logistics - Dougherty County – MCLB Albany - Marine Amphibious Assault Vehicles - $25,547,000
Defense - Sumter County - Lockheed - Joint Stars Engines - $39,517,000
Defense - Statewide - Timmons Corp. - Advanced Electric Drive - $1,000,000.00
Defense - Air Force - Lowndes County - SAFT - Battery Manufacturing - $3,000,000
Defense - Air Force - Statewide - Northrup Grumman - Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser - $72,400,000
Defense - Muscogee County - Fort Benning Construction - Multi-purpose training range complex - $30,000,000
Defense - Muscogee County - Fort Benning Construction - Fire station - $2,850,000
Defense - Muscogee County - Fort Benning Construction - Infantry Squad Battle Course - $1,650,000
Army Logistics - Muscogee County - Dimensions International Army Sense and Sensor Logistics Approved - $2,400,000
Army R&D - Polytech - Polymer Cased Ammunition Approved - $1,000,000
Construction - Dougherty County – MCLB Albany - Sewer line replacement Approved - $1,000,000
Construction - Muscogee County - Fort Benning - Sunshine Road ammunition route approved - $2,000,000
Marine Logistics - Dougherty County – MCLB Albany - Marine Amphibious Assault Vehicles Approved - $121,590,000
Defense - Sumter County - Lockheed - Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser - Approved - $58,670,000
Defense - Statewide - Lockheed - C-130J Hercules Transport Approved - $769,171,000
Defense - Statewide - Lockheed - KC-130J Approved - $278,000,000
Defense - Statewide - Lockheed - C-5 Galaxy Modernization Approved - $105,000
Defense - Statewide - Lockheed - F/A-22 Raptor Approved - $3,600,000,000
Defense - Statewide - Northrup Grumman - F-35 Approved - $4,600,000,000
Defense - Statewide - Gulfstream C-37 Approved - $106,000,000
Education - Statewide - Georgia State University - Create viral immunology center Approved - $1,300,000
