[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 65 (Monday, May 23, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION AND CVN-76, THE NEXT NUCLEAR AIRCRAFT CARRIER 
                        IMPORTANT TO OUR NATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Strickland). Under a previous order of 
the House, the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Scott] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. SCOTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Department of 
Defense authorization bill, H.R. 4301, now before the House of 
Representatives. As Members of a Congress, one of the most important 
aspects of our job is ensuring that this country has a strong defense. 
This bill accomplishes that goal.
  It is obvious that the world is changing very rapidly in the wake of 
the collapse of the Soviet Union. Our national defense requirements are 
changing as well.
  Since 1985, the Defense budget has been cut by 35 percent--with the 
loss of 650,000 uniformed personnel. The present 5-year plan already 
anticipates more cuts in the future. So as President Clinton stated in 
his State of the Union address, I strongly believe that ``we must not 
cut defense further.''
  Within the $262.7-billion authorization there are several issues that 
are of critical importance to this Nation, such as $3.6 billion for 
defense conversion, $606 million for new sealift ships, and a well 
deserved pay increase for our forces.
  Full funding for the next nuclear aircraft carrier, CVN-76, is 
another such program. Presently, CVN-76 is fully funded in H.R. 4301.
  As proven by the gulf war and as clearly enunciated in the Bottom-Up 
Review, aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of our Nation's response 
to such regional conflicts. Ultimately, aircraft carriers are the 
instrument called upon most frequently when aggression must be stopped.
  The case for CVN-76, rests basically on four pillars: national 
security strategy, preserving the industrial base, cost effectiveness, 
and operational merits.
  The first element is our national security. Aircraft carriers are a 
proven weapon system. Aircraft carriers have provided every President 
beginning with Franklin Roosevelt with an effective means of power 
projection and military force.
  A second element, Mr. Speaker, is that building CVN-76 is important 
as a means of preserving our industrial base. If we do not build CVN-76 
in the near-term, our ability to build an aircraft carrier in the 
future will be in jeopardy. Even a 1-year delay in funding for CVN-76 
will result in the loss of critical skills which will take up to 5 
years to reconstitute through new hires and training. A longer delay 
could cause a permanent loss in the skills necessary to maintain our 
carrier force.
  Mr. Speaker, a third important factor with respect to CVN-76 is the 
question of cost-effectiveness. Presently, the costs of CVN-76 are 
known and under control--nuclear carriers built at the Newport News 
Shipyard are built on time and on budget. If funding is not achieved 
this year, thousands of skilled workers will lose their jobs and many 
of the subcontractors could go out of business. A delay of 1 more year 
would raise the cost by $500 million because of the expenses and 
problems associated with reconstituting workers and maritime 
industries. Funding CVN-76 now is in the best interest of the taxpayer 
and it makes good business sense.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, the fourth pillar in the case for CVN-76 is in 
the operational merits of nuclear carriers. Supported by successive 
Secretaries of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, nuclear 
propulsion for carriers has been repeatedly proven superior to any 
other system. CVN-76 will replace an over 40-year-old fossil-fueled 
carrier--providing the Navy with increased warfighting capability, 
greater endurance, and improved survivability and safety.
  And the Navy's nuclear program has been proven safe. In April, the 
Navy reached a remarkable milestone of 100-million miles steamed on 
nuclear power. In over 40 years, there has never been a life or 
environmentally threatened accident involving a nuclear powered 
aircraft carrier. Furthermore, the handling and disposal of nuclear 
waste has been repeatedly studied. A 1992 GAO study concluded that the 
Navy's nuclear waste can be dealt with safely.
  There is a very strong case for CVN-76 and the Defense authorization 
bill. With support for environmental technologies, continued research 
and development in new modern defense systems, and investments in 
industrial and technology development programs. I believe that this 
bill will provide this Nation with a strong defense now and in the 
future. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4301.

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