[CPEO-MEF] Vieques Amendment: Senate Floor Actions

[Aimee Houghton <aimeeh@cpeo.org>]

[Thanks to John Lindsay-Poland for this information from the
Congressional Record. --Aimee]
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Congressional Record, September 25, 2001:

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oklahoma is recognized.

Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, at this time, I withdraw my amendment No.
1595
from consideration.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the amendment is
withdrawn.

Mr. INHOFE. I yield the floor.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey is recognized.

Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, I express my gratitude, and I understand
the
differences of opinion we have regarding this issue. I think we now have
an
opportunity to have a good discussion on this issue in conference
committee.
In that vein, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the RECORD
the
amendment I would have proposed.

There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the
RECORD, as follows:

Strike all after the first word and insert in lieu thereof the
following:

SEC. 1066. CLOSURE OF VIEQUES NOVEL TRAINING RANGE.

(a) Section 1505 of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization
Act
for Fiscal Year 2001 is amended by adding at the end the following
new
subsection:

``(e) NATIONAL EMERGENCY.--

``(1) EXTENSION OF DEADLINE.--The President may extend the May 1,
2003
deadline for the termination of operations on the island of Vieques
established in Subsection (b)(1) for a period of one year (and may
renew
such extension on an annual basis), provided that--

``(A) The President has declared a national emergency, and such
declaration
remains in effect; and

``(B) The President determines that, in light of such national
emergency,
the actions required by subsections (b), (c) and (d) would be
inconsistent
with the national security interest of the United States.

``(2) EFFECT OF EXTENSION.--An extension of the deadline pursuant 
to
paragraph (1) shall suspend the requirements of subsections (b), (c) and
(d)
for the duration of the extension.''

(b) Subsection (a) of Section 1505 of the Floyd D. Spence National
Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 is repealed and subsections
(b)
through (e) are redesignated as subsections (a) through (d)
respectively.

(c) Section 1503 of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization
Act
for Fiscal Year 2001 is repealed.

Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, before I discuss the provisions of this
amendment, let me make something clear. I am very sensitive--painfully
and
personally so--of the human tragedy and national emergency created by
the
cowardly attacks of the terrorists on our nation on September 11. Just
as
much as my colleagues, I stand united with our President, our
military
personnel, and the people of America in accepting, as President Bush put
it,
our ``mission and moment'' to end this scourge of terrorism.

But just as so many of America's leaders have implored the nation to
be
measured and thoughtful in our actions in the wake of this tragedy, and
just
as President Bush has asked that Americans go on about their lives, so
too
should the workings of America's democracy. That's why I believe it would
be
a mistake to approve the amendment by the Senator from Oklahoma,
which
represents a significant change in direction from the policies formulated
by
both Presidents Bush and Clinton, while frankly undermining the
President's
authority as commander in chief. Why should the Chief of Naval
Operations,
and the commandant of the Marine Corps, be given the authority to
make
decisions that go well beyond military considerations? In my view,
full
access given the extended public debate and deep concerns, surrounding
this
Vieques facility this decision rightfully rests, as it did before
September
11, with the President of the United States.

Mr. President, I believe, in the long run, we should respect the views
of
the people of Puerto Rico and Vieques. Their voice has been clear on
this
issue, certainly before the current circumstances. Just a few months
ago,
more than 70 percent of those living in Vieques voted to suspend
operations
and there was a broad element of support for that view throughout
Puerto
Rico's leadership and public.

At the same time, I understand and am sympathetic to the concerns of many
of
my colleagues about the need for combined Navy and Marine 
amphibious
training in this time of national emergency. But, as Presidents Clinton
and
Bush both have said, in the long-term, we should respect the will of
the
people. And, in my view, while there is justification for changing
the
timing of implementation of current policies given the current
circumstances, we should return to agreed upon policy as soon as
practical.
Any exceptions to the agreed upon policy should be at the judgment of
the
president of the United States-our commander in chief.

And that, Mr. President, is exactly what this amendment does. It
would
provide for the termination of operations on Vieques by May 1, 2003,
subject
to the national security judgment of the President. In fact, my
amendment
would codify the policy already established by President Bush. However,
in
an effort to give the President necessary flexibility in these
extraordinary
times, the amendment would allow the President to continue operations
on
Vieques for one-year periods in times of national emergency beyond the
May
1, 2003 deadline, if the President determines, in light of the
emergency,
that the termination of operations would be inconsistent with
national
security interests.

I also would note, that my amendment eliminates the requirement for a
second
referendum required by last year's DOD authorization. Finally Mr.
President
this is a compromise endorsed by the Resident Commissioner of Puerto
Rico,
Congressman ANIBAL ACEVEDO VILÁ and supported by the National Puerto
Rican
coalition. After all, there already has been a referendum with the
results
showing that 70 percent of Vieques residents favor closure.

Mr. President, I think that's a reasonable compromise that makes
commonsense. And I hope it can win the support of my colleagues.

Mr. President, I've heard some people say that the Navy bombings in
Vieques
are merely a political issue. But to the 9,000 residents of Vieques who
live
immediately adjacent to the field of fire and have suffered with
constant
and severe noise, and whose environment and health have been threatened
by
related pollutants, the bombing of Vieques is a humanitarian issue. And
to
all the people of Puerto Rico, it's an issue about respect and
democracy.

I have personally visited Vieques and seen the disastrous impact
that
constant bombing has had on the island's natural resources and
environment,
on its resident's health and on its economy. The people of Puerto Rico
are
Americans. They raise our flag. They have fought valiantly in our wars.
Many
hundreds--maybe as many as 800--died on September 11th in the World
Trade
Center tragedy. Puerto Ricans deserve to be treated justly.

Both President Clinton and President Bush have recognized this reality
in
formulating their responses to this difficult issue.

Mr. President, like all Americans, I believe that the people of Puerto
Rico
have shown throughout history that they are willing to make sacrifices
if
asked to protect America. But we shouldn't use the current circumstances
to
justify continued bombing over some indeterminate period. We should and
must
find an alternative training site and more on as soon as possible.

[Page: S9798] GPO's PDF

So, in summary, Mr. President, this amendment recognizes our 
current
military needs and provides the President flexibility to deal with
America's
war on terrorism. But, over time, this action would respect the will of
the
people of Puerto Rico, and end the Vieques debate on the bombings.

I hope my colleagues will support this amendment.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Please note new phone number and address below.

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Aimee R. Houghton                                 

Associate Director, CPEO

1101 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1000

Washington, DC  20036

tel: 202-452-8039; fax: 202-452-8095

Email: aimeeh@cpeo.org

www.cpeo.org

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