Washington, D.C. -— The House took the first step toward overriding President Bush’s veto of a key defense bill today, which would ensure a halt to the Navy’s proposed outlying landing field in eastern North Carolina’s Washington County.
“If the Navy wants to move forward with an OLF, it should now be clear that they will need the support of the community,” Congressman G. K. Butterfield said.
Today, the House again approved the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Bill, taking the first step toward overriding President Bush’s veto. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill next week.
Last month, the conference report on the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Bill included language repealing “the authority for construction of an outlying landing field at Washington County, North Carolina.” The bill won overwhelming support from the House and Senate, but was vetoed by President Bush.
Bush cited concerns that a little-publicized provision would tie up the billions of dollars in assets of the current Iraq government in court claims filed by victims of Saddam Hussein’s regime. The provision would have allowed victims of state-sponsored terrorism to sue foreign governments in U.S. courts. A bipartisan “fix” provides a waiver for the Iraqi government.
If approved by the House and Senate, Bush is expected to sign the compromise bill.
The Navy has already purchased more than 2,000 acres in Washington and Beaufort counties as part of a 30,000-acre OLF the Navy says it needs in order to train pilots to land on aircraft carriers. The proposed site lies just west of an area that was established specifically as a waterfowl sanctuary where thousands of birds winter annually.
Once the bill is signed into law, Butterfield said that he will ask Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter what the Navy plans to do with the land that has already been purchased.
The following is the language contained in the Defense Authorization from Division B; Title XXII-Navy; page 1219.
Repeal of authorization for construction of Navy outlying landing field, Washington County, North Carolina (Sec. 2207)
The House bill contained a provision (sec. 2205) that would amend section 2201(a) of the Military Construction Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136), as amended, and section 2201(a) of the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal year 2005 (Public Law 108-375), as amended, to repeal the authority for construction of an outlying landing field at Washington County, North Carolina.
The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
The Senate recedes.
The conferees expect the Department of the Navy to request new authorization for an outlying field once a study of the impact to the environment is complete and a site is selected.