[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 138 (Thursday, September 7, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H8600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          KEEP THE B-2 BOMBER

  (Mr. McKEON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, today we will hold an important vote on the 
future of our Nation's bomber force.
  With this in mind, I would like to outline excerpts from a recent 
report by the Congressional Research Service on the B-2 bomber. This is 
a neutral organization that does not advocate or oppose defense 
programs. Members opposed to modernizing our bomber fleet will discuss 
what they view as alternatives to the B-2. Listen to what the report 
says about these alternatives:
  Alternative No. 1--Tactical aircraft. Tactical aircraft are manpower 
intensive and require large numbers of tanker aircraft and nearby, 
properly equipped military bases or carriers from which to operate.
  Alternative No. 2.--Cruise missiles. Cruise missiles are expensive--
up to 70 times more costly than bomber-delivered direct-attack 
weapons--and offer comparatively little firepower.
  Alternative No. 3.--Theater ballistic missiles--Theater-based 
ballistic missiles have very limited range and are also more costly 
than bomber-delivered direct-attack weapons. Of course, the fourth 
alternative is to do nothing and fly 1950's-era B-52's until they are 
70 years old, which has been suggested by officials within our Defense 
Department. Last month, we witnessed a potential consequence of this 
mentality when an engine dropped from a B-52 in flight during a routine 
exercise.
  We should not let this happen to the men and women of our Armed 
Forces. Vote no on the Obey-Dellums-Kasich amendment.

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