[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8] [Senate] [Pages 10792-10796] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TEXT OF AMENDMENTS SA 4196. Mr. REID submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2766, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle D of title VI, add the following: SEC. 648. EXPANSION OF COMBAT-RELATED SPECIAL COMPENSATION ELIGIBILITY FOR CHAPTER 61 MILITARY RETIREES. (a) Eligibility.--Subsection (c) of section 1413a of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking ``entitled to retired pay who--'' and all that follows and inserting ``who-- ``(1) is entitled to retired pay (other than by reason of section 12731b of this title); and ``(2) has a combat-related disability.''. (b) Computation.--Paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of such section is amended-- (1) by designating the text of that paragraph as subparagraph (A), realigning that text so as to be indented 4 ems from the left margin, and inserting before ``In the case of'' the following heading: ``In general.--''; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(B) Special rule for retirees with fewer than 20 years of service.--In the case of an eligible combat-related disabled uniformed services retiree who is retired under chapter 61 of this title with fewer than 20 years of creditable service, the amount of the payment under paragraph (1) for any month shall be reduced by the amount (if any) by which the amount of the member's retired pay under chapter 61 of this title exceeds the amount equal to 2\1/2\ percent of the member's years of creditable service multiplied by the member's retired pay base under section 1406(b)(1) or 1407 of this title, whichever is applicable to the member.''. (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2006, and shall apply to payments for months beginning on or after that date. ______ SA 4197. Mr. REID submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2766, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle D of title VI, add the following: SEC. 648. EFFECTIVE DATE OF TERMINATION OF PHASE-IN OF CONCURRENT RECEIPT FOR VETERANS WITH SERVICE- CONNECTED DISABILITIES RATED AS TOTAL BY VIRTUE OF UNEMPLOYABILITY. (a) In General.--Section 1414(a)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking ``100 percent'' the first place it appears and all that follows and inserting ``100 percent and in the case of a qualified retiree receiving veterans' disability compensation at the rate payable for a 100 percent disability by reason of a determination of individual unemployability, payment of retired pay to such veteran is subject to subsection (c) only during the period beginning on January 1, 2004, and ending on December 31, 2004.''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on December 31, 2004. ______ SA 4198. Mr. WARNER (for himself and Mr. Levin) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2766, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: On 51, between lines 16 and 17, insert the following: (a) Reports on Certain Determinations To Proceed Beyond Low-Rate Initial Production.--Section 2399(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph (5): ``(5) If, before a final decision is made within the Department of Defense to proceed with a major defense acquisition program beyond low-rate initial production, a decision is made within the Department to proceed to operational use of the program or allocate funds available for procurement for the program, the Director shall submit to the Secretary of Defense and the congressional defense committees the report with respect to the program under paragraph (2) as soon as practicable after the decision under this paragraph is made.''. On page 51, line 17, strike ``(a)'' and insert ``(b)''. On page 51, line 20, insert ``and the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation'' after ``Logistics''. On page 51, beginning on line 22, strike ``in light'' and all that follows through line 23 and insert ``in order to-- (A) reaffirm the test and evaluation principles that guide traditional acquisition programs; and (B) determine how best to apply such principles to emerging acquisition approaches. On page 52, line 4, strike ``shall issue'' and insert ``and the Director shall jointly issue''. On page 52, strike lines 7 through 11. On page 52, line 12, strike ``(b)'' and insert ``(c)''. On page 52, line 13, strike ``subsection (a)'' and insert ``subsection (b)''. On page 53, line 18, strike ``(c)'' and insert ``(d)''. On page 53, line 25, strike ``subsection (a)'' and insert ``subsection (b)''. On page 54, line 4, strike ``(d)'' and insert ``(e)''. On page 54, line 8, strike ``subsection (a)'' and insert ``subsection (b)''. On page 54, line 11, strike ``(e)'' and insert ``(f)''. On page 54, line 15, insert before the period the following ``, which length of time may be not more than 6 years from milestone B to initial operational capability''. ______ SA 4199. Mr. WARNER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2766, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: [[Page 10793]] At the end of subtitle E of title VIII, add the following: SEC. 874. PILOT PROGRAM ON EXPANDED USE OF MENTOR-PROTEGE AUTHORITY. (a) Pilot Program Authorized.--The Secretary of Defense may carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of treating small business concerns described in subsection (b) as disadvantaged small business concerns under the Mentor-Protege Program under section 831 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 (10 U.S.C. 2302 note). (b) Covered Small Business Concerns.--The small business concerns described in this subsection are small business concerns that-- (1) are participants in the Small Business Innovative Research Program of the Department of Defense established pursuant to section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638); and (2) as determined by the Secretary, are developing technologies that will assist in detecting or defeating Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) or other critical force protection measures. (c) Treatment as Disadvantaged Small Business Concerns.-- (1) In general.--For purposes of the pilot program, the Secretary may treat a small business concern described in subsection (b) as a disadvantaged small business concern under the Mentor-Protege Program. (2) Mentor-protege agreement.--Any eligible business concerned approved for participation in the Mentor-Protege Program as a mentor firm may enter into a mentor-protege agreement and provide assistance described in section 831 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 with respect to a small business concern treated under paragraph (1) as a disadvantaged small business concern under the Mentor-Protege Program. (d) Funding.--Funds for any reimbursement provided to a mentor firm under section 831(g) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 with respect to a small business concern described in subsection (b) under the pilot program shall be derived from funds available for the Small Business Innovative Research Program of the Department of Defense. (e) Sunset.-- (1) Agreements.--No mentor-protege agreement may be entered into under the pilot program after September 30, 2010. (2) Other matters.--No reimbursement may be paid, and no credit toward the attainment of a subcontracting goal may be granted, under the pilot program after September 30, 2013. (f) Report.--Not later than March 1, 2009, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the pilot program. The report shall-- (1) describe the extent to which mentor-protege agreements have been entered under the pilot program; and (2) describe and assess the technological benefits arising under such agreements. (g) Small Business Concern Defined.--In this section, the term ``small business concern'' has the meaning given that term in section 831(m)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991. ______ SA 4200. Mr. WARNER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2766, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: On page 358, strike lines 18 and 19 and insert the following: SEC. 864. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PLAN FOR CONTINGENCY PROGRAM MANAGEMENT. On page 358, beginning on line 21, strike ``Secretary of Defense'' and all that follows through ``interagency plan'' and insert ``Secretary of Defense shall develop a plan for the Department of Defense''. On page 359, beginning on line 1, strike ``interagency plan'' and insert ``plan of the Department of Defense''. On page 359, line 17, strike ``United States Government'' and insert ``Department''. On page 360, line 20, strike ``government procedures'' and insert ``procedures for the Department''. On page 361, between lines 6 and 7, insert the following: (c) Utilization in Plan for Interagency Procedures for Stabilization and Reconstruction Operations.--To the extent practicable, the elements of the plan of the Department of Defense for contingency program management required by subsection (a) shall be taken into account in the development of the plan for the establishment of interagency operating procedures for stabilization and reconstruction operations required by section 1222. ______ SA 4201. Mr. WARNER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2766, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: On page 362, line 1, strike ``by striking'' and insert ``by inserting''. ______ SA 4202. Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mr. Biden, and Mr. Leahy) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 2766, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle D of title III, add the following: SEC. 352. REPORTS ON WITHDRAWAL OR DIVERSION OF EQUIPMENT FROM RESERVE UNITS FOR SUPPORT OF RESERVE UNITS BEING MOBILIZED AND OTHER UNITS. (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings: (1) The National Guard continues to provide invaluable resources to meet national security, homeland defense, and civil emergency mission requirements. (2) Current military operations, transnational threats, and domestic emergencies will increase the use of the National Guard for both military support to civilian authorities and to execute the military strategy of the United States. (3) To meet the demand for certain types of equipment for continuing United States military operations, the Army has required Army National Guard Units to leave behind many items for use by follow-on forces. (4) The Governors of every State and 2 Territories expressed concern in February 2006 that units returning from deployment overseas without adequate equipment would have trouble carrying out their homeland security and domestic disaster duties. (5) The Department of Defense estimates that it has directed the Army National Guard to leave overseas more than 75,000 items valued at approximately $1,760,000,000 to support Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. (6) Department of Defense Directive 1225.6 requires a replacement and tracking plan be developed within 90 days for equipment of the reserve components of the Armed Forces that is transferred to the active components of the Armed Forces. (7) In October 2005, the Government Accountability Office found that the Department of Defense can only account for about 45 percent of such equipment and has not developed a plan to replace such equipment. (8) The Government Accountability Office also found that without a completed and implemented plan to replace all National Guard equipment left overseas, Army National Guard units will likely face growing equipment shortages and challenges in regaining readiness for future missions. (b) Reports on Withdrawal or Diversion of Equipment From Reserve Units for Support of Reserve Units Being Mobilized and Other Units.-- (1) In general.--Chapter 1007 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 10208 the following new section: ``Sec. 10208a. Mobilization: reports on withdrawal or diversion of equipment from Reserve units for support of Reserve units being mobilized and other units ``(a) Report Required on Withdrawal or Diversion of Equipment.--Not later than 90 days after withdrawing or diverting equipment from a unit of the Reserve to a unit of the Reserve being ordered to active duty under section 12301, 12302, or 12304 of this title, or to a unit or units of a regular component of the armed forces, for purposes of the discharge of the mission of such unit or units, the Secretary concerned shall submit to the Secretary of Defense a report on the withdrawal or diversion of equipment. ``(b) Elements.--Each report under subsection (a) on equipment withdrawn or diverted shall include the following: ``(1) A plan to replace such equipment within the unit from which withdrawn or diverted. ``(2) If such equipment is to remain in a theater of operations while the unit from which withdrawn or diverted returns to the United States, a plan to provide such unit with replacement equipment appropriate to ensure the continuation of the readiness training of such unit. ``(3) A signed memorandum of understanding between the active or reserve component to which withdrawn or diverted and the reserve component from which withdrawn or diverted that specifies-- ``(A) how such equipment will be tracked by the unit or units to which withdrawn or diverted; and [[Page 10794]] ``(B) when such equipment will be returned to the unit from which withdrawn or diverted.''. (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 1007 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 10208 the following new item: ``10208a. Mobilization: reports on withdrawal or diversion of equipment from Reserve units for support of Reserve units being mobilized and other units.''. ______ SA 4203. Mr. KERRY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2766, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: On page 437, between lines 2 and 3, insert the following: SEC. 1084. UNITED STATES POLICY ON IRAQ. (a) Withdrawal of Troops From Iraq.-- (1) Schedule for withdrawal.--The President shall reach an agreement as soon as possible with the Government of Iraq on a schedule for the withdrawal of United States combat troops from Iraq by December 31, 2006, leaving only forces that are critical to completing the mission of standing up Iraqi security forces. (2) Consultation with congress required.--The President shall consult with Congress regarding such schedule and shall present such withdrawal agreement to Congress immediately upon the completion of the agreement. (3) Maintenance of over-the-horizon troop presence.--The President should maintain an over-the-horizon troop presence to prosecute the war on terror and protect regional security interests. (b) Iraq Summit.--The President should convene a summit as soon as possible that includes the leaders of the Government of Iraq, leaders of the governments of each country bordering Iraq, representatives of the Arab League, the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, representatives of the European Union, and leaders of the governments of each permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, for the purpose of reaching a comprehensive political agreement for Iraq that addresses fundamental issues including federalism, oil revenues, the militias, security guarantees, reconstruction, economic assistance, and border security. ______ SA 4204. Mr. KERRY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2766, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: On page 437, between lines 2 and 3, insert the following: SEC. 1084. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON IRAQ SUMMIT. (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings: (1) Iraq is destabilized by an ongoing insurgency and increasing sectarian violence. (2) General John P. Abizaid, the head of the United States Central Command, said in March 2006 that ``sectarian violence is a greater concern for us security-wise right now than the insurgency''. (3) General George Casey, the senior United States military commander in Iraq, and Zalmay Khalilzad, the United States Ambassador to Iraq, have stated that ``the principal threat to stability is shifting from an insurgency grounded in rejection of the new political order to sectarian violence grounded in mutual fears and recriminations''. (4) A national unity government and a comprehensive political agreement among Shias, Sunnis, and Kurds are essential to end sectarian violence, undermine the insurgency, and bring stability to Iraq. (5) On May 20, 2006, the Iraqi National Assembly swore in a national unity government under the leadership of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki. (6) A comprehensive political agreement must resolve fundamental issues dividing Iraqis and undermining stability, including federalism, oil revenues, the militias, security guarantees, reconstruction, and border security. (7) Reaching a comprehensive agreement that will help bring stability to Iraq is in the best interests of Iraq's neighbors, the region, and the international community. (8) Iraq's neighbors, representatives of the Arab League, and the international community as represented by NATO, the European Union, and the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council can assist in the process of bringing about such a comprehensive agreement. (9) The President should expedite this process by bringing together these parties and the leaders of the new Government of Iraq. (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the President should convene a summit as soon as possible that includes the leaders of the Government of Iraq, leaders of the governments of each country bordering Iraq, representatives of the Arab League, the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, representatives of the European Union, and leaders of the governments of each permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, for the purpose of reaching a comprehensive political agreement for Iraq that addresses fundamental issues including federalism, oil revenues, the militias, security guarantees, reconstruction, economic assistance, and border security. ______ SA 4205. Mr. LAUTENBERG submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2766, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle A of title VII, add the following: SEC. 707. TEMPORARY PROHIBITION ON INCREASE IN COPAYMENTS UNDER RETAIL PHARMACY SYSTEM OF PHARMACY BENEFITS PROGRAM. Subsection (a)(6) of section 1074g of title 10, United States Code, as amended by section 702(b) of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(D) During the period beginning on April 1, 2006, and ending on December 31, 2007, the cost sharing requirements established under this paragraph for pharmaceutical agents available through retail pharmacies covered by paragraph (2)(E)(ii) may not exceed amounts as follows: ``(i) In the case of generic agents, $3. ``(ii) In the case of formulary agents, $9. ``(iii) In the case of nonformulary agents, $22.''. ______ SA 4206. Mr. LUGAR submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2766, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: On page 480, between lines 4 and 5, insert the following: SEC. 1304. REMOVAL OF CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON PROVISION OF COOPERATIVE THREAT REDUCTION ASSISTANCE. (a) Repeal of Restrictions.-- (1) Soviet nuclear threat reduction act of 1991.--Section 211(b) of the Soviet Nuclear Threat Reduction Act of 1991 (title II of Public Law 102-228; 22 U.S.C. 2551 note) is repealed. (2) Cooperative threat reduction act of 1993.--Section 1203(d) of the Cooperative Threat Reduction Act of 1993 (title XII of Public Law 103-160; 22 U.S.C. 5952(d)) is repealed. (3) Russian chemical weapons destruction facilities.-- Section 1305 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (Public Law 106-65; 22 U.S.C. 5952 note) is repealed. (b) Inapplicability of other restrictions.-- Section 502 of the Freedom for Russia and Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets Support Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-511; 106 Stat. 3338; 22 U.S.C. 5852) shall not apply to any Cooperative Threat Reduction program. ______ SA 4207. Mrs. FEINSTEIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 2766, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle I of title X, insert the following: SEC. 1084. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON REDEPLOYMENT OF ARMED FORCES FROM IRAQ. (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings: [[Page 10795]] (1) The United States Policy in Iraq Act (section 1227 of Public Law 109-163) states that ``calendar year 2006 should be a period of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty, with Iraqi security forces taking the lead for the security of a free and sovereign Iraq, thereby creating the conditions for the phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq''. (2) Congress, through such Act, declared its policy that ``United States military forces should not stay in Iraq any longer than required'' and the people of Iraq should be so advised. (3) In such Act, Congress also stated that ``the Administration should tell the leaders of all groups and political parties in Iraq that they need to make the compromises necessary to achieve the broad-based and sustainable political settlement that is essential for defeating the insurgency in Iraq, within the schedule they set for themselves''. (4) Congress also said, the Executive Branch needs to explain to Congress and to the people of the United States the strategy of the United States for the successful completion of its mission in Iraq. (5) Since March 2003, Congress has appropriated approximately $300,000,000,000 for combat operations in Iraq. (6) The nature of violence in Iraq has changed in the last 6 months from insurgent and terrorist conducted attacks to sectarian and ethnic killings, increasing the prospect of a broader civil war and the involuntary involvement of the Armed Forces of the United States in this internal conflict. (7) Trained and equipped security forces of Iraq have increased in number to roughly 250,000 troops, and there are now more than 70 battalions capable of taking the lead in some form. (8) Moqtada al-Sadr and other radical religious leaders control and direct death squads and militia forces, fomenting internecine warfare and the expansion of religious and ethnic tensions that are a major destabilizing factor in Iraq. (9) Iraq has now completed historic elections resulting in the creation of a permanent 275 member assembly and a Constitution, and the recent selection of Prime Minister- designate Nuri al-Maliki will further solidify a governing structure for the country. (10) The establishment of a Parliament and a working government signals an opportunity for the people of Iraq to take control of their own destiny. (11) An open-ended major military presence of the United States in Iraq will continue to inspire efforts by Al Qaeda, Iran, and other state sponsors of terrorism to target directly soldiers of the United States throughout Iraq. (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that-- (1) following 3 years of military operations in Iraq, the United States should transition its missions to a mission that focuses on logistical suppo; and training of the military and police forces of Iraq; (2) the United States should begin to downsize the Armed Forces of the United States in Iraq with the goal of ending the presence of the Armed Forces of the United States in Iraq within 18 months from the date of the enactment of this Act, except for logistical and training personnel; (3) a plan to redeploy the Armed Forces of the United States either to the United States or to other critical areas of potential terrorist conflict such as Afghanistan should be prepared immediately; and (4) a schedule and timeline for the downsizing and deployment of the Armed Forces of the United States in Iraq should be prepared and sent to Congress for review within 60 days from the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Report.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and once every 3 months thereafter, until all members of the Armed Forces of the United States have redeployed from Iraq, the President shall submit to Congress an unclassified report on the policy of the United States regarding Iraq and the strategic downsizing of the structure of the Armed Forces of the United States in Iraq. (2) Contents.--Each report shall include, to the extent practicable, the following unclassified information: (A) The diplomatic, military, and economic steps being taken to commence the immediate, phased redeployment of Armed Forces from Iraq. (B) Actions being taken by the United States to strengthen the capacity of the Interior, Defense, and other related ministries of Iraq to provide for nationwide security and a stable living environment for all of the people of Iraq. (C) Efforts of the United States to train and logistically support the military, police and other security units of Iraq for purposes of completing the transfer of the duties and responsibility for maintaining peace in Iraq, and providing for a civil and just society in Iraq. (D) Activities of the United States designed to sustain and strengthen a broad-based political settlement among all ethnic and religious groups in Iraq that is essential for defeating the insurgency, successfully combating death squads and militia groups, and restoring law and order across the country. (E) A detailed, substantive overview of implementation plans for a balanced, strategic downsizing and repositioning of Armed Forces in Iraq at the earliest possible date. ______ SA 4208. Mr. WARNER (for Mr. Frist (for himself, Mr. Reid, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Levin)) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 2766, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; as follows: At the end of subtitle I of title X, insert the following: SEC. 1084. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE COMMENDABLE ACTIONS OF THE ARMED FORCES. (a) Findings.--Congress finds that-- (1) on June 7, 2006, the United States Armed Forces conducted an air raid near the City of Baquba, northeast of Baghdad, Iraq, that resulted in the death of Ahmad Fadeel al- Nazal al-Khalayleh, better known as Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of the al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist organization and the most wanted terrorist in Iraq; (2) Zarqawi, as the operational commander of al-Qaeda in Iraq, led a brutal campaign of suicide bombings, car bombings, assassinations, and abductions that caused the deaths of many members of the United States Armed Forces, civilian officials of the United States Government, thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians, and innocent civilians of other nations; (3) Zarqawi publicly swore his allegiance to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda in 2004, and changed the name of his terrorist organization from the ``Monotheism and Holy War Group'' to ``al-Qaeda in Iraq''; (4) in an audiotape broadcast in December 2004, Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda's worldwide terrorist organization, called Zarqawi ``the prince of al-Qaeda in Iraq''; (5) 3 perpetrators confessed to being paid by Zarqawi to carry out the October 2002 assassination of the United States diplomat, Lawrence Foley, in Amman, Jordan; (6) the Monotheism and Holy War Group claimed responsibility for-- (A) the August 2003 suicide attack that destroyed the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad and killed the United Nations envoy to Iraq Sergio Vieira de Mello along with 21 other people; and (B) the suicide attack on the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf that occurred less than 2 weeks later, which killed at least 85 people, including the Ayatollah Sayed Mohammed Baqr al-Hakim, and wounded dozens more; (7) Zarqawi is believed to have personally beheaded American hostage Nicholas Berg in May 2004; (8) in May 2004, Zarqawi was implicated in a car bombing that killed Izzadine Salim, the rotating president of the Iraqi Governing Council; (9) in November 2005, al-Qaeda in Iraq attacked 3 hotels in Amman, Jordan, killing at least 67 innocent civilians; (10) Zarqawi and his terrorist organization were directly responsible for numerous other brutal terrorist attacks against the American and coalition troops, Iraqi security forces and recruits, and innocent Iraqi civilians; (11) Zarqawi sought to turn Iraq into a safe haven for al- Qaeda; (12) to achieve that end, Zarqawi stated his opposition to the democratically elected government of Iraq and worked to divide the Iraqi people, foment sectarian violence, and incite a civil war in Iraq; and (13) the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, the intelligence community, and other agencies, along with coalition partners and the Iraqi Security Forces, should be commended for their courage and extraordinary efforts to track down the most wanted terrorist in Iraq and to secure a free and prosperous future for the people of Iraq. (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that Congress-- (1) commends the United States Armed Forces, the intelligence community, and other agencies, along with coalition partners, for the actions taken through June 7, 2006, that resulted in the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of the al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist organization and the most wanted terrorist in Iraq; (2) commends the United States Armed Forces, the intelligence community, and other agencies for this action and their exemplary performance in striving to bring freedom, democracy, and security to the people of Iraq; (3) commends the coalition partners of the United States, the new government of Iraq, and members of the Iraqi Security Forces for their invaluable assistance in that operation and their extraordinary efforts to secure a free and prosperous Iraq; (4) commends our civilian and military leadership for their continuing efforts to [[Page 10796]] eliminate the leadership of al-Qaeda in Iraq, and also commends the new government of Iraq, led by Prime Minister Jawad al-Maliki, for its contribution to that achievement; (5) recognizes that the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is a victory for American and coalition forces in the global war on terror and a blow to the al-Qaeda terrorist organization; (6) commends the Iraqi Prime Minister Jawad al-Maliki on the finalization of the new Iraqi cabinet; (7) urges the democratically elected government in Iraq to use this opportunity to defeat the terrorist enemy, to put an end to ethnic and sectarian violence, and to achieve a free, prosperous, and secure future for Iraq; and (8) affirms that the Senate will continue to support the United States Armed Forces, the democratically elected unity government of Iraq, and the people of Iraq in their quest to secure a free, prosperous, and democratic Iraq. ____________________