Henry Waxman: “I will vote for H.R. 4200, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005, because it contains a number of…”

“I will vote for H.R. 4200, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005, because it contains a number of provisions that I support that will address the needs of the brave men and women serving on the front lines in Iraq, as well as the needs of our dedicated members of the civil service here at home. This bill includes much needed increases in separation allowance and combat pay for troops that are deployed in combat. It also includes provisions that will greatly improve the A-76 process, which governs competitions between the private sector and federal employees. These provisions will ensure, among other things, that federal employees are permitted to compete for their jobs before they are outsourced to the private sector and will give them the same legal rights as contractors enjoy. These are important protections that I strongly support. However, I have a number of concerns with other provisions in the bill, and believe it should have gone further than it does in some areas. Iraq is fast becoming a hall of mirrors. When the Administration says conditions are getting better, they are probably getting worse. When the Administration says they have a plan, they usually don't. And when the Administration says they are trying to build an international coalition, they may actually be further alienating our allies.”