SB 19-41: G.I. Joe Act (Debating)

[Devout Centrist]

I’ll sponsor

[Devout Centrist]

This bill would eliminate a number of programs under the administration of the Department of Defense. I have several concerns with this bill, but I have an amendment that should sort those out quickly.

[Devout Centrist]

Proposing an amendment:

G.I. JOE ACT

HOUSE BILL

SECTION I: NAME
a. This law shall be known as the G.I. Joe Act

SECTION II: WEAPONS PROGRAMS ELIMINATIONS
a. The following military weapons programs shall be eliminated:
   1. Eliminate B61 Nuclear Bomb Life Extension Program;
   2. Eliminate B83 Nuclear program excepting 100 for use against asteroids;
   3. Eliminate C-130 Avionics Modernization Program;
   4. Eliminate C-17 Transport Aircraft Program;
   5. Eliminate C-27 Joint Cargo Aircraft Program;
   6. Eliminate EA-18G Growler Program;
   7. Eliminate EP-X Aircraft Program;
   8. Eliminate Far-Term Sea-Based Terminal Defense Program ;
   9. Eliminate Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Program;
   10. Eliminate Joint Strike Fighter Program;
   11. Eliminate JLENS blimp Program;
   12. Eliminate Littoral Combat Ship Program;
   13. Eliminate MEADS Program;
   14. Eliminate SM-3 II-B Missile Defense System Program;
   15. Eliminate TALOS Project;
   16. Eliminate Third Generation Infrared Surveillance Program;
   17. Eliminate Trident II Missile Program;
   18. Eliminate V-22 Osprey Program (Continue to use MH-60, H-92, CH-53)
b. The following military weapons shall be retired from service:
   1. HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter
   2. U-2 Spy Plane
   3. EP-3 Aires Aircraft
   4. Bell TH-67 Jet Ranger Helicopter
   5. Bell OH-58 Kiowa Helicopter
   6. A-10 Thunderbolt Attack Aircraft
   7. B-2 Spirit Bomber
   8. B-52 Stratofortress Bomber
c. A moratorium is hereby imposed on the purchase of the following until 2023:
   1. M-1 Abrams battle tanks
   2. San Antonio Class Amphibious Assault Ships
   3. Air Force Long Range Bomber research
d. Purchases of Operational Support Aircraft shall be reduced by 25%;
e. The naval fleet of small surface combat ships shall be reduced from 42 to 30. The ships to be retired shall be sold to foreign allies.
f. Funding for the Cruiser Modification Program shall be reduced by 30%

SECTION III: OTHER SAVINGS
a. No federal funding allocated for the Department of State shall be expended on counter-narcotics operations.
b. The National Guard shall be prohibited from enforcing drug laws on Atlasian soil.
c. The National Guard Agricultural Development Team program is hereby eliminated.
d. The High Risk Personnel Program for off-base housing is hereby eliminated.
e. Housing Allowances for off-base commuters is hereby reduced by 10%.
f.  Funding for demonstrations by the Blue Angels Demonstration Squad, the 13th Air Force Air Expeditionary Group, and the 109th National Guard Airlift Wing is hereby reduced by 25%
g. Funding for military musical bands is hereby reduced 50%
h. Funding for the Marine Band Newsletter Notes is hereby eliminated.
i. e. Military bands shall be permitted to sell recordings of their music

j. Federal payments to private air carriers for transportation of military personnel shall not exceed those levels guaranteed in the contracted for agreement.

SECTION IV: TIME
a. This act shall take effect beginning in FY 2020.

[Devout Centrist]

Proposing an amendment:

G.I. JOE ACT

HOUSE BILL

SECTION I: NAME
a. This law shall be known as the G.I. Joe Act

SECTION II: WEAPONS PROGRAMS ELIMINATIONS
a. The following military weapons programs shall be eliminated:
   1. Eliminate C-130 Avionics Modernization Program;
   2. Eliminate C-17 Transport Aircraft Program;
   3. Eliminate C-27 Joint Cargo Aircraft Program;
   4. Eliminate EA-18G Growler Program;
   5. Eliminate EP-X Aircraft Program;
   6. Eliminate Far-Term Sea-Based Terminal Defense Program ;
   7. Eliminate Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Program;
   8. Eliminate Joint Strike Fighter Program;
   9. Eliminate JLENS blimp Program;
   10. Eliminate Littoral Combat Ship Program;
   11. Eliminate MEADS Program;
   12. Eliminate SM-3 II-B Missile Defense System Program;
   13. Eliminate TALOS Project;
   14. Eliminate Third Generation Infrared Surveillance Program;
   15. Eliminate Trident II Missile Program;
   16. Eliminate V-22 Osprey Program (Continue to use MH-60, H-92, CH-53)
b. The following military weapons shall be retired from service:
   1. HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter
   2. U-2 Spy Plane
   3. EP-3 Aires Aircraft
   4. Bell TH-67 Jet Ranger Helicopter
   5. Bell OH-58 Kiowa Helicopter
   6. A-10 Thunderbolt Attack Aircraft
  7. B-2 Spirit Bomber
   8. B-52 Stratofortress Bomber
c. A moratorium is hereby imposed on the purchase of the following until 2023:
   1. M-1 Abrams battle tanks
   2. San Antonio Class Amphibious Assault Ships
   3. Air Force Long Range Bomber research
d. Purchases of Operational Support Aircraft shall be reduced by 25%;
e. The naval fleet of small surface combat ships shall be reduced from 42 to 30. The ships to be retired shall be sold to foreign allies.
f. Funding for the Cruiser Modification Program shall be reduced by 30%

SECTION III: OTHER SAVINGS
a. No federal funding allocated for the Department of State shall be expended on counter-narcotics operations.
b. The National Guard shall be prohibited from enforcing drug laws on Atlasian soil.
c. The National Guard Agricultural Development Team program is hereby eliminated.
d. The High Risk Personnel Program for off-base housing is hereby eliminated.
e. Military bands shall be permitted to sell recordings of their music
f. Federal payments to private air carriers for transportation of military personnel shall not exceed those levels guaranteed in the contracted for agreement.

SECTION IV: TIME
a. This act shall take effect beginning in FY 2020.

[Devout Centrist]

So about the M1 Abrams production question?

Ultimately, there will be some start-up costs associated with restarting M1 Abrams production. This is unavoidable.

However, let me be frank: we are rapidly moving away from traditional, symmetrical warfare. Main battle tanks sit rusting in fields for most of the lifetime (and hopefully they will continue to do so). Unless a future Administration wants to prosecute an offensive war, MBT's capabilities are limited at best. We ought to be investing in cyber defense instead of worrying about the start-up cost of MBT production in the future.

[Devout Centrist]

Where are the numbers from the GM? Any preliminary estimates?

[Devout Centrist]

Aye