Mr. President:
“I would like to call up and speak briefly on
McCain amendment #1482. This amendment would prohibit the Secretary of Defense
or the Secretary of a military department from funding or conducting medical
research or development projects unless the Secretary determines that the
research or project is designed to protect, enhance, or restore the health and
safety of members of the Armed Forces through phases of deployment, combat,
medical recovery and rehabilitation.
“Mr. President, I will not seek a vote on this
amendment, but I will say that it is an issue that must be addressed if we are
going to spend American tax dollars on defending this nation’s security and the
men and women who are serving. More
FLOOR
CHART ON CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING ON MEDICAL RESEARCH AT DOD GROWTH
6-17-15 Congressionally Directed Spending on Medical Research at DOD Growth Chart
6-17-15.pdf (73.6 KBs)
As the world has become a more dangerous place, the
men and women of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base have consistently and bravely
answered the call of duty. Today, they are engaged in the most pressing global
conflicts, including fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Iraq
and Syria and supporting NATO’s efforts to deter Russia’s aggression against
Ukraine and its neighbors in Eastern Europe.
I have always been proud of the contributions D-M
has made to our national security, and believe that given the current state of
the world, D-M’s value will only grow.
Southern Arizona’s excellent weather, which
provides nearly optimal flying conditions almost year-round, has and should
continue to attract military units from around the nation to Tucson during the
winter months under the Air Force’s Total Force Training program. Under that
program, formerly known as Operation Snowbird, D-M will continue to serve as a
national training base for Air Force and Air National Guard pilots. More
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator
John McCain (R-AZ) and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, John
Barrasso (R-WY), highlighted a report released today by
the Government Accountability Office (GAO) entitled: “Indian Gaming:
Regulation and Oversight by the Federal Government, States, and Tribes.”
In the report, GAO finds that federal regulators at
the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) are not effectively promoting
voluntary compliance with federal guidelines concerning the proper handling of
money, accuracy of financial statements, and security requirements at Indian
casinos.
“The primary role of NIGC is to maintain the health
and integrity of Indian gaming for the benefit of Indian tribes,” said
Senator McCain. “If NIGC continues to rely on Indian casinos to voluntarily
comply with federal guidelines, then the Commission must at least improve its
state and tribal training and consultation initiatives and develop metrics that
assess their effectiveness.”
“This new report calls for improvements in
the Commission’s methods in maintaining the integrity of the gaming system,” said
Chairman Barrasso. “The NIGC should find more effective methods that
will ensure all facets of gaming are conducted with accountability and
accuracy.”
Other findings from the GAO report include: More
