[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 190 (Thursday, November 30, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2270]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2126, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS 
                               ACT, 1996

                                 ______


                               speech of

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 16, 1995

  Ms. PELOSI. I rise to oppose the conference report for H.R. 2126, 
Department of Defense appropriations for fiscal year 1996. On September 
29, this House defeated the DOD conference report by a vote of 151 to 
267. Since that vote, there have been only minor changes to the 
contents of this conference report and it should be rejected.
  Like the first conference agreement, this conference agreement 
appropriates a total of $243.4 billion for defense programs--nearly $7 
billion more that the administration's request. When combined with the 
defense-related provisions of other appropriations bills, this Congress 
will have appropriated nearly $265 billion for defense-related programs 
during this fiscal year.
  My colleagues, these enormous expenditures represent a much greater 
threat to the security of this country than the former Soviet Union 
ever did. In order to fund unnecessary weapons systems like the B-2 and 
the Seawolf submarine, we have slashed funding for health care 
insurance programs, decent and affordable housing, and many higher 
education opportunities for young Americans.
  We should support a level of defense spending necessary to meet our 
legitimate security needs. We should not support a conference agreement 
that is filled with corporate pork and wasteful expenditures. Vote 
``no'' on this conference report.

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