[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 138 (Thursday, September 7, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H8604]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     WHY I SUPPORT THE B-2 PROGRAM

  (Mr. ENSIGN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the B-2 
amendment. Like my colleagues I have taken a hard look at the B-2 
program. In fact, I have gone out of my way to find a reason to vote 
against the B-2. I came to Washington to cut the deficit and eliminate 
wasteful programs. I voted against the space station because in my 
opinion the program did not make sense in the current budget 
environment.
  The same cannot be said for the B-2. The truth is, that I have been 
unable to find a compelling reason to justify halting this program at 
20 planes. The B-2, with its unprecedented combination of stealth, 
range, and payload is precisely the kind of technologically advanced 
weapon in which the Congress should invest.
  A single B-2 has the ability to complete a mission that would require 
many more conventional aircraft. This in turn puts far fewer lives at 
risk. During the Gulf War the stealthy F-117 flew only 2 percent of the 
missions but hit 40 percent of the targets. The stealthy B-2 has a far 
greater capability than the F-117. We must keep our technological edge 
as we move toward the 21st century. The B-2 stealth bomber is the 
weapon that can meet future challenges.


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