Authorization to use military

force against Iraq

Last week, the House of Representatives

passed by a vote of 296-133, H. J Res. 114 which authorizes President

George W. Bush to use force against Iraq to bring that country into compliance

with U.N. Security Council resolutions and to protect the national security

of the United States.

While neither President Bush

nor the U.S. Congress want to go to war with Iraq, in the absence of a

peaceful resolution the passage of this measure reinforces the President's

authority to deal with this dictator and terrorist in Baghdad.

Additionally, it demonstrates

to Saddam Hussein and the world community the resolve of the American

people to take the necessary action to protect our freedom, safety, and

security.

I still have hopes there can

be a diplomatic solution to the gathering threat of Saddam Hussein's quest

for weapons of mass destruction. However, if the use of force becomes

necessary, this President and this Administration will have the support

of the U.S. Congress.

Ultimately, since more than

30 nations have pledged their support, in varying degrees, to assist the

United States in achieving this goal, I believe the U.N Security Council

will also agree to a resolution with tougher consequences for Saddam's

failure to comply.

Department of Defense Appropriations

Act

Thursday, the House passed

the Department of Defense Appropriations Conference Report for Fiscal

Year 2003 (H.R. 5010). The Defense Appropriations Bill will provide funding

for our dedicated men and women in uniform, their training, and the procurement

of the most advanced equipment for the DoD to use in our nation's war

on terrorism, to ensure continued mission success, while improving the

quality of life of our soldiers and their families.

The conference report provides

critical funding to support our men and women at Fort Benning - home of

the infantry. Included in the bill is a request I made to the chairman

of the committee following several visits to Ft. Benning to include additional

operations and maintenance (O&M) support for the Airborne barracks.

These barracks were originally

constructed in the 1950s, and have yet to see any significant renovations.

The conditions in these barracks are deplorable and the inclusion of $2

million dollars in O&M funding will provide critical funding for improvements

to these existing facilities. This is a wise investment of our taxpayer

dollars to be sure our soldiers have adequate housing while they train

to protect our nation. The Defense Appropriations bill will be signed

into law by the President in the coming days.

Army Aviation Heritage Foundation

Last week, I sponsored and

Congress passed House Concurrent Resolution 465, honoring the Army Aviation

Heritage Foundation.

Based in Hampton, the Army

Aviation Heritage Foundation is devoted to promoting the history of military

aviation. The foundation is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization of

veterans and civilian supporters acting to connect the American soldier

to the American public through the story of Army Aviation. They are not

a part of the U.S. Army and receive no governmental funding assistance.

AAHF funding comes entirely from donations made by private individuals

and organizations. These volunteers are committed to preserving the aircraft

used by our military in securing the freedom we so enjoy as a nation.

Army Aviation Heritage Foundation

volunteers devote a significant amount of their personal time, resources,

and money to bring the story of our country's military and the legacy

of our veterans to the American people through their "living history"

programs, displaying and flying World War II, Korean, and Vietnam-era

planes and helicopters.

These "living history"

programs, presented at major public venues and air shows, are designed

to honor our country's military and its veterans while inspiring the public

and providing a glimpse of military life, service, and devotion to the

next generation.

Since 1997, the Army Aviation

Heritage Foundation has devoted more than 150,000 volunteer hours and

$5.3 million in donated funds, aircraft, and equipment at 35 air shows

and public presentations to more than 5.5 million people.

Military tax relief

On Wednesday, the House of

Representatives, with my strong support, unanimously passed the Armed

Forces Tax Fairness Act (H.R. 5557), a bill which would provide tax breaks

to reservists and active duty military personnel. This is important legislation

in support of the military as we prepare for a possible war with Iraq.

H.R. 5557 would give members

of the military more flexibility to claim a tax exclusion for capital

gains from home sales. Currently, taxpayers are allowed to exempt capital

gains from taxes for a home sale of up to $250,000 for an individual and

$500,000 for a couple. To qualify, homeowners must have owned the home

for at least five years and occupied it for 24 months of that time.

H.R. 5557 would let members

of the military take more than five years to get to that 24-month mark,

on extended duty at least 150 miles from home. This provision would be

retroactive to May 6, 1997.

Congress affirms support

for Full Concurrent Receipt

The last vote of the week was

a motion to instruct the House and Senate members of the Defense Authorization

Conference Committee to support language in the final Defense Authorization

Bill to include full funding for Concurrent Receipt. This passed overwhelmingly

accept the support for this particular provision, the vote sends a solid

signal to those conferees that this issue must be addressed.

As many of you know, I have

consistently supported legislation to allow military retired pay and veterans

disability compensation to be received concurrently. In fact, the House

Budget Resolution authorizes establishing the budgetary framework over

the next five years to provide concurrent receipt to veterans with a disability

rating of 60 percent or greater.

This responsible budget resolution

for Fiscal Year 2003 would support a 250 percent increase in the current

"special compensations" payments for severely disabled. Unfortunately,

the Senate Budget Committee failed to properly address the matter of concurrent

receipt.