Congress Passes 2004 Defense Bill

The House and Senate have approved the $401.3 billion defense bill which now goes to President Bush for signature. The bill authorizes the following:

Average 4.15 % increase in soldier's salaries,

Extension of increases in combat and family separation pay,

Reverses reduction in disabled veterans' retirement benefits,

Authorizes purchase of 80 and lease of 20 Boeing 767 airplanes as midair refueling tankers,

Authorizes $9.1 billion for ballistic missile defense,

Authorizes $6.6 billion for seven new ships,

Authorizes $4.4 billion for developing the Joint Strike Fighter,

Authorizes $3.5 billion for 22 F/A-22 Raptor jet fighters,

Provides flexibility for the Pentagon to hire, fire, and promote civilian employees,

Gives the military exemptions to the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act,

Removes research ban on low-yield nuclear weapons,

Authorizes $15 million for continued research into the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator, and

The bill adds 2,400 soldiers to the US Army.

My only comment regarding the legislation is that the exemptions to the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act are long overdue. For years I've read about exercises being hampered by various unheard of critters inhabiting the training ranges. It's ridiculous that the defense of the United States should be subservient to the welfare of the desert tortoise or the red-cockaded woodpecker.