National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027

Floor Speech

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Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

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Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Chair, I yield myself 1\1/2\ minutes.

Mr. Chair, I am going to say, I am pretty baffled by this amendment from my friend and colleague, and I rise in opposition to this amendment.

It moves base safety in the wrong direction. Even the Department of Defense opposes this amendment. This amendment would prohibit automated speed enforcement cameras on military installations.

To be clear, these cameras aren't about punishing our troops or their families. They exist to keep bases and military families safe. These cameras keep reckless drivers accountable and have a proven and effective record for reducing traffic accidents and maintaining safe and orderly driving.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, speed enforcement cameras have been found to reduce roadway fatalities and injuries by up to 37 percent.

I want to remind my colleagues that our military bases aren't just for troops to work and train. They are home to schools, youth centers, child development centers, playgrounds, and family housing.

Junior personnel can't usually afford vehicles and are usually having to walk around bases. It is imperative that we maintain traffic safety. The servicemembers and families who live and work on these bases deserve every protection we can give them, and that must be part of this conversation.

I have not heard one shred of data and not one credible argument that this amendment makes our installations safer.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Chair, I appreciate my colleague's argument there, but if the Department of Defense can't maintain the cybersecurity cameras on our own installations, then we have a lot bigger problems.

The truth is that vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of death for our servicemembers.

Why are we even debating this? We should be debating amendments that rein in this administration's reckless conduct on this Iran war or its reckless spending in the Middle East. Instead, my colleagues would rather discuss speed cameras.

The fact is, this amendment restrains the Secretary's ability to allocate security and law enforcement resources to address traffic safety. Prohibiting the use of speed cameras also undermines an installation commander's ability to deploy the appropriate resources to effectively meet the traffic and public safety needs of the installation.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this reckless amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

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