Conaway Chronicle

National Defense Authorization Act

In Congress this week the National Defense Authorization Act passed the House and Senate, whereupon it was sent to the President for his signature. This bill is important because it provides pay and benefits for our troops, buys the weapons and equipment they need to do their job, and funds research to help meet future threats to our national security.  

While this bill is central to a functioning national security, there was a misunderstanding regarding the detainee provisions. This provision does not address or extend new authority to detain U.S. Citizens. What it does do is affirm that the military may lawfully detain individuals who are engaged in armed conflict with the United States, as stated by the Authorization of the Use of Military Force. The bill adds explicit protections for American citizens as well as a prohibition against the President waving such protections. 

This bill strengthens our ability to fight the War on Terror and enables a continued, steadfast national security plan. 

FY2012 Appropriations Bill

This bill provides $915 billion in funding for the nine remaining appropriations bills and is consistent with the overall $1.043 trillion level enacted by the Budget Control Act.

After weeks of tough negotiations with our colleagues in the Senate, we have finally reached a fair and bipartisan comprise that meets the budget goals laid out last summer. 

This bill builds on the spending reductions begun at the start of this year and marks the second consecutive year that discretionary spending has fallen, a feat not accomplished since WWII.  In addition, important policy riders were included in the text.  Among several important provisions, the bill holds the line on taxpayer funding of abortions, defunds key parts of the President’s healthcare law, and overturns the looming ban on traditional light bulbs.

Today’s bill is a compromise, make no mistake.  Neither party got everything they wanted, but this legislation is a tangible step forward on the march towards fiscal sanity. 

 

The Middle Class Tax Relief & Job Creations Act of 2011

The legislation extends a number of provisions scheduled to expire at the end of the year and includes fully paid-for extensions of the payroll tax rate and a reformed unemployment insurance program. 

Plain and simple, priority number one is jobs. This bill addresses that concern right away by expediting the Keystone XL pipeline and rolling back job-crushing EPA regulations, both of which will help create hundreds of thousands of new jobs.

Although this legislation is not perfect, it prevents a tax increase on working families and begins several long delayed reforms to our public assistance programs. These reforms will lay the groundwork for much needed renegotiation of our entitlement programs.

Read the Bill
Read a Summary of the Bill

Down Payment To Protect National Security Act

The super-committee’s failure to find $1.2 trillion in savings over a ten year period triggered automatic cuts to defense that will roughly amount to $500 billion. However, our national defense budget has already been cut by $465 billion under a provision of the Budget Control Act. Any further cuts are reckless and would devastate our ability to defend ourselves, and severely impair our ability to meet future threats as warned by our military leaders.

That is why I have co-sponsored a bill with Chairman of the House Armed Service Committee, Howard “Buck” Mckeon, that reverses these sequestration cuts. It is known as the Down Payment To Protect National Security Act. This legislation keeps the original cuts as intended in place, but protects the Department of Defense from further cuts by applying savings accrued from a reduction in the federal workforce. The Act will work to achieve a 10% reduction through attrition over a ten year period. 

This legislation will cut the size of government as well as protect the military from cuts that will cripple its ability to protect the nation. Is it important to note that unlike other sectors of government, the Department of Defense must plan ahead for weapons systems, personnel costs, and other operational needs years before they are needed. The decisions made now will have an enormous affect on our national security in the next decade – it is imperative we protect the those who protect us.

By The Numbers:

Defense Cuts Since 2011
2011 Gates Efficiencies: $178 Billion
BCA Tier 1 Cuts: over $465 Billion
Sequestration Cuts: Over $500 Billion
Sequestration Cuts for FY2013: $55 Billion

Down Payment On National Security Act
Savings Through 10% Attrition: $127 Billion
Available Funding for Defense: $55 Billion
Available Funding for Non-Defense Discretionary: $55 Billion
Available Funding for Deficit Reduction: $17 Billion

As always, you can follow me on Facebook, YouTube, andTwitter.


Sincerely, 
 
Rep. Mike Conaway, 11th District