[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 139 (Thursday, September 29, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  DOD APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORT

                                 ______


                           HON. SAM GEJDENSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 29, 1994

  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, today we passed the conference report on 
H.R. 4650, the Department of Defense appropriations bill. I wish to 
recognize the distinguished chairman of the House Defense 
Appropriations Subcommittee for his dedication and hard work in 
bringing together a bill which so well addresses our national security 
needs while accommodating the difficult fiscal environment in which we 
must operate.
  Among the programs funded by the bill is the Navy's new attack 
submarine, or NSSN. The report language addressing this program 
cautions the Navy that above all, controlling costs of the NSSN must 
remain paramount as the Navy proceeds with this vital program. I am in 
full agreement with the conferees on this issue, and I can assure my 
colleagues that no one will be more diligent than I in monitoring the 
Navy's progress in keeping the NSSN affordable.
  Included in the language accompanying the conference report, however, 
are some statements which should be corrected. This is necessary in 
order that the record accurately reflects the intentions of the 
Congress. For example, the recommendation of the Deputy Secretary of 
Defense is to remove the third NSSN, scheduled for authorization in 
2001, from the Defense plan, not the second NSSN as stated in the 
conference report. Also, the House actually reduced funding for this 
program by $100 million, not the $200 million as stated in the report. 
Finally, it should be noted that the construction cost of the first 
NSSN has been stated by the Navy to be $2.3 billion, not the $3.4 
billion mentioned in the report. Apparently the development costs were 
included in the procurement cost stated in the report.
  Once again, Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my appreciation for the 
tireless efforts of our subcommittee chairman in bringing to fruition 
the Defense appropriation bill for fiscal year 1995.

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