[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 15, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E806-E807]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               DEFENSE SPENDING INCREASES UNCONSCIONABLE

                                 ______


                          HON. ELIZABETH FURSE

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 15, 1996

  Ms. FURSE. Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed with the fiscal year 1997 
defense authorization adopted by the House today. I particularly object 
to the nearly $13 billion spending increase added by the House National 
Security Committee. That increase is unconscionable.
  Even though five amendments reducing the increase in defense spending 
were offered to the Rules Committee, not one was allowed for debate on 
the House floor--not even my amendment calling for a reduction of $1. 
My amendment would have tested whether this body has the courage to cut 
even $1 from the largest discretionary account in the budget.
  What arrogance that was on the part of lawmakers to not even allow us 
to debate the decision the National Security Committee made to increase 
defense spending $12.3 billion more than even the Pentagon asked for.
  I would like to remind Speaker Gingrich of what he said in his 
address to the Nation last year following the passage of the Contract 
With America. He told America that everything is on the table, 
including Pentagon spending. House Budget Chairman Kasich said on CNN 
last year: ``I want to suggest something that will ruffle a few 
feathers. And that is that the Pentagon should be reviewed with the 
same microscope as everything else in this Federal Government should be 
reviewed.'' Apparently, no one wanted to ruffle any feathers.
  I would also like to remind my colleagues what Defense Secretary 
Perry had to say in his March 1996 annual report to the President and 
the Congress: ``Events since the end of the cold war have demonstrated 
the need for America to retain a strong global leadership role and a 
prudent defense posture. President Clinton's fiscal year 1997 defense 
budget, and the strategy and plans on which it is based, support that 
need while remaining fiscally responsible.''
  Last year, this Congress increased defense spending by $7 billion, 
while decreasing all other discretionary accounts. And this year, it 
looks like we will increase defense spending by almost twice that 
amount. I find it preposterous that we are considering increasing 
Pentagon spending at a time when we are asking seniors and students to 
pay more.
  Last year's action was taken despite the fact that the University of 
Maryland conducted a nationwide poll last November that showed 77 
percent of the American public opposed to Congress's addition of $7 
billion to the Pentagon's defense budget request.
  People can argue about how much funding the Pentagon needs to perform 
its important role, U.S. defense spending is roughly equal to that of 
the next six nations combined. We spend twice as much on our military 
as do all of our potential enemies combined, including Russia and 
China.
  We need to reassess our current strategy of fighting two wars nearly 
simultaneously without help from our allies. There are two potential 
war fronts out there. One is the threat of war abroad and the other is 
the lack of security on our streets.
  Since 1980, 1,100 of our police officers have been killed in the line 
of duty. In the same time period, 530 U.S. soldiers have been killed in 
action. As crime rates have skyrocketed in this country, spending on 
police protection has remained constant. As a result, Americans have 
less than a 10th the effective police power of 30 years ago. We have a 
responsibility to protect our citizens from threats at home as well as 
threats from abroad.
  This is National Law Enforcement Recognition Week. At this time when 
all of us are trying so hard to balance the Federal budget, we can 
avoid increasing military spending without endangering U.S. national 
security, which must include security at home.
  I am pleased that the amendment I sponsored requiring greater burden 
sharing by our allies worldwide passed by a wide margin, 353 to 62. 
This marks the third year in a row I have sponsored such an amendment. 
This year's legislation is a timely call for a fundamental reassessment 
of our international troop deployments, an evaluation that has been 
sorely needed ever since the cold war ended.
  I will continue to work to reorder our priorities in more commonsense 
ways. I firmly believe in spending every penny we need for a sound 
national defense, but not a penny more.

[[Page E807]]



                   HONORING THE SUFFOLK COUNTY POLICE

                                 ______


                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 15, 1996

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask all my colleagues to 
join me in supporting the Suffolk County police during their annual 
memorial service.
  The Suffolk County Police Superior Officers Association, the Suffolk 
County Police Benevolent Association, and the Suffolk County Detectives 
Association, will be honoring their fellow officers who have given 
their lives on the line of duty. In particular, the associations will 
be dedicating a commemorative footstone in memory of Sgt. Timothy 
Henck.
  Suffolk County Police Sgt. Timothy J. Henck passed away as a result 
of injuries received in the line of duty on August 6, 1995. Sergeant 
Henck sustained his injuries during a vehicle chase of a burglary 
suspect on the Long Island Expressway.
  Sergeant Henck came from a family with a history of law enforcement 
and followed his father, the late Lt. Thomas Henck of the Suffolk 
County Police Department, into law enforcement. Sergeant Henck began 
his career in January 1986, as a member of the New York City Police 
Department, serving in Brooklyn. Later that year, Sergeant Henck joined 
the Suffolk County Police Department, where he was assigned to the 3d 
precinct and quickly won 15 departmental commendations.
  In June 1994, Timothy Henck was promoted to Sergeant and earned the 
respect and admiration of all those who worked for and with him until 
his untimely death last year.
  Sergeant Henck showed the full measure of his devotion to law 
enforcement and made the ultimate sacrifice while in the performance of 
his duty.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring Sergeant 
Henck and all the Suffolk County police officers who have given their 
lives in the line of duty.

                          ____________________