[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 138 (Thursday, September 7, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H8602]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      AMERICA NEEDS THE B-2 BOMBER

  (Mr. TORRES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, the current debate over the B-2 bomber marks 
a turning point for the preservation of U.S. air power. It has been 
said that the history of U.S. military power is characterized by 
technological achievements that produced globally dominating weapons 
systems. I would maintain that the B-2 bomber is just such a 
technological achievement. If we examine the core competencies of each 
of our branch of services, it would be evident that independent 
strategic bombardment has clearly become the unique core competency of 
our new U.S. Air Force. Indeed, the United States is no longer just a 
maritime power--we are an aerospace power, and this strategic air power
 is vital to our national security.

  The President of this United States must continue to have the 
leverage to deter an aggressor by threatening to destroy most of its 
economic infrastructure with an immediate, devastating strike. If such 
a strike were necessary, it could be done with B-2's with minimum 
support, minimum risk, minimum collateral damage, and without U.S. 
ground force fatalities.
  The B-2 has global range, high subsonic speed and an extremely low 
radar signature. It combines the most modern avionics with the ability 
to deliver precision weapons in all weather conditions. Having created 
this devastating capability I would urge my colleagues not to abandon 
it without truly understanding the facts. We must project our legacy in 
air power into the future--to do this we need the B-2 bomber.

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