[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 45 (Thursday, April 21, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            GRASSLEY-EXON AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET RESOLUTION

  Mr. NUNN. Mr. President, I want to thank the Senator from Nebraska on 
several points. One point is he, I think, very ably and skillfully 
handled a very difficult nomination where views were strongly held on 
both sides on the Kelso nomination, and I appreciate that very much.
  I appreciate his steadfast support of national security. He has made 
that record over and over and over again. I do not agree with him in 
terms of the implications of the Grassley-Exon amendment, because I 
have watched the Appropriations Committee allocate funds before. I have 
seen it, and I am afraid a very substantial portion of this will come 
out of defense. But I do agree that that is not the intent of the 
Senator from Nebraska; that is not his intent, and he has made that 
clear over and over and over again.
  If that amendment comes back in the budget resolution, then those of 
us who believe those cuts should not come from defense--defense is 
already being cut too much, and we are at a very slim margin in our 
basic commitments around the world, particularly as reflected in year 
1, 2, 3, after this one--we will have to make that position over and 
over again on the appropriations bills.
  I know what the Senator from Nebraska is saying. I know where he is 
coming from. We do not have a complete agreement, but I think everybody 
who has watched him over the years knows he is a stalwart supporter of 
the national security of the United States. When he says these cuts do 
not have to come out of defense, he is right. I fear that a substantial 
portion will, based on the habits of the Senate and the actions of the 
Senate and the Appropriations Committee. But I know that that is not 
his intent.
  Mr. EXON. Will the Senator yield for a question?
  Mr. NUNN. Yes.
  Mr. EXON. I thank my good friend, the distinguished chairman of the 
Armed Services Committee, for his kind remarks.
  Would he also agree, then, that the decision as to where the cuts 
come from are strictly under the authority and prerogative of the 
Appropriations Committee, that they can blame Exon-Grassley if they 
want to, but the responsibility is theirs? Is that accurate?
  Mr. NUNN. I think that is accurate, in general. I also believe 
whatever the Appropriations Committee does is subject finally--although 
sometimes it is procedurally difficult for the Senate to deal with it--
to the full Senate, because we have the right, basically, to cut 
appropriations bills and shift appropriations bills. Sometimes we get 
into procedural difficulties, but the Senator is basically right, as a 
matter of discretion.
  Mr. EXON. I thank my friend.

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