[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 99 (Friday, June 16, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H6047]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         IN DEFENSE OF DEFENSE

  (Mr. HEFLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I think it is fair to say that the defense 
budget has not been a high priority for Mr. Clinton. I think it is 
important, however, for us to remember that the greatest portion of the 
defense dollars that are spent are not spent on SDI nor on the B-2 
bomber.
  We spend the biggest share of our defense dollars on people, the 
young enlisted personnel who catapult the F-14's off carriers, control 
military satellites, man Patriot missile batteries, and land on beaches 
from Normandy to Somalia. These men and women who travel in harm's way 
for our sake are the ones who are hurt by inadequate defense spending.
  We have begun yesterday and again today the process of rebuilding our 
national defenses. Because of our fiscal crisis, it won't be as much as 
some of us would like but it is a down payment. Remember, most defense 
goes to the men and women who protect us every day. That is what you 
will find in today's military construction appropriation bill.
  Mr. Speaker, history has proven to us that when we see the daylight 
of peace on the horizon, we tend to disarm and bask in the sunshine. We 
need to remember that the darkness of war can be only a few hours away.

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