[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S18907]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                THE DOD AUTHORIZATION CONFERENCE REPORT

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I, too, want to join in saying how pleased I 
am that we have passed this very important piece of legislation. There 
was extensive debate today, and I think all the important points have 
been made. I am proud of the Senate, that we did get it passed and sent 
it to the President. The defense of our country should be our highest 
priority. We have lived up to that responsibility in the passage of 
this legislation.
  I want to, again, commend the distinguished chairman of the Armed 
Services Committee, the Senator from South Carolina, for his dogged 
persistence in moving this legislation. Without his efforts, without 
his coming on to the floor of the Senate and in committee and grabbing 
us by the arm and saying, ``We have to move this issue,'' and, ``Let us 
get agreement on missile defense and on the B-2. We have to move this 
legislation,'' it would not have happened, in spite of the efforts of 
all of us. But he just stayed with it and we got it done. This should 
be the Thurmond bill because he really made it happen.
  I have enjoyed working with all the members of the Armed Services 
Committee, especially the Senator from Virginia, Senator Warner, and 
all of the others. I want to say, also, I think a lot of staff on both 
sides of the aisle need to be recognized. There are too many to name, 
but Senator Thurmond's staff, Senator Warner's fine staff, and my own 
staff assistant, Sam Adcock, put a lot of time in this bill, and they 
should be congratulated.
  I certainly agree with the Senator from Texas--with the letter she 
has developed to say that we should make sure that our veterans are 
paid, and there is no reason why they should not be. I assume they will 
be taken care of by administrative decision.

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