Congressman Cole Votes for Defense Authorization Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Cole voted for the Defense Authorization Conference Report (H.R. 1815) recently that includes multiple provisions to improve the quality of life for men and women in the nation’s active, guard and reserve forces.

“The men and women of our Armed Forces continue to sacrifice every day to ensure America’s success in the global war on terrorism, and they deserve the equipment, the training and the additional benefits we included in this bill,” Congressman Tom Cole said.

H.R. 1815 authorizes $441 billion for the Department of Defense. Specifically this bill includes $76.9 billion in procurement funding, $70 billion for research, development, testing and evaluation and $108.9 billion for military personnel. It allows for the 3.1 percent pay raise for our troops and increases the monthly hardship duty pay from $300 to $750. It also extends the death gratuity increase to $100,000 for all military deaths.

In addition to these national priorities, this legislation also includes provisions that will be particularly important to Oklahoma.

H.R. 1815 also includes language to establish a memorial for the U.S.S. Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor. Congressman Cole inserted this language into the House passed version earlier this year and worked to include it in the final version of the legislation.

"I am very pleased we were able to maintain the language in the bill that will jump start the process to establish a memorial for the U.S.S. Oklahoma. This legislation will require the Secretary of the Navy, within 90 days of the bill being signed into law, to identify a sight for the memorial to be built," Congressman Tom Cole said.

Money will be privately raised to build the physical memorial. Language in the bill also allows for the park service to create transportation from the island to the memorial.

A request by Congressman Tom Cole to split NLOS-C from the development track of the Future Combat Systems was also included in this legislation. The bill also includes provisions to ensure that NLOS-C will be powerful enough to remain a dominant weapon on the battlefield for many years.

"This bill continues the plan to move forward with NLOS-C--and possibly puts it on a fast track. By splitting NLOS-C from the Future Combat Systems, it allows the Army to move forward even if other manned ground vehicles are further delayed," Congressman Tom Cole said.

The defense authorization bill must now pass in the Senate.

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