[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 10 (Thursday, January 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E87]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON S. 1124, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR 
                            FISCAL YEAR 1996

                                 ______


                               speech of

                         HON. FRANK A. LoBIONDO

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 24, 1996

  Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, the conference report to S. 1124, the 
fiscal year 1996 Defense Authorization bill, contains many positive and 
long-sought provisions. As a cosponsor of two bills to correct the 
inequity in cost-of-living adjustments for military retirees, H.R. 38 
and H.R. 2664, I applaud the inclusion of a provision to correct this 
injustice to our military retirees. Under the conference report, 
military COLA's will once again match Federal COLA's, as they ought to 
and as they have traditionally.
  The conference report contains two other important provisions: A 2.4-
percent basic military pay increase and a 5.3-percent increase in the 
basic allowance in quarters [BAQ]. By all accounts the quality of life 
for our military personnel has been declining over the past decade. 
These two measures will help to alleviate the shortage of quality 
housing and ensure that military pay keeps up with he annual inflation 
rate.
  Despite my strong support for these provisions, I am unable to 
support the conference report to S. 1124. Simply put, this bill exceeds 
what is needed for a strong national defense and even goes beyond what 
the Pentagon requested in its budget. For example, the bill authorizes 
$772.9 million to purchase parts for 20 more B-2 Stealth bombers 
despite Congress's 1993 vote to limit the number of B-2's to the 20 
currently under production or already delivered and despite the 
Pentagon's desire not to build any more. Moreover, future funding to 
complete the additional 20 B-2's is by no means assured, making the 
$772.9 million a risky gamble.
  The conference report also authorizes $700 million for a third 
Seawolf submarine, an item the Clinton administration requested after 
the Seawolf program was terminated in 1993. According to experts, the 
Seawolf design is already outdated, and this is evidenced by the 
development of the new attack submarine line and the fact that the 
House National Security Committee, in its committee report to H.R. 
1530, opted not to build a third Seawolf but instead opted to upgrade 
the second Seawolf with a new hull section. I agree with the National 
Security Committee's original analysis, approved by the House when it 
passed H.R. 1530, that a third Seawolf is unnecessary and the $700 
million could be better spent.
  For these reasons, I must oppose passage of the conference report to 
S. 1124.

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