[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 107 (Friday, July 19, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8381-S8382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE 1997 DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL

 Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, yesterday the Senate completed 
action on the fiscal year 1997 Defense appropriations bill. This is one 
of the most important annual appropriations bills and the largest; by 
itself it consumes about half of all discretionary spending. I had deep 
concerns about the bill because it added more than $10 billion to the

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President's request for defense. By my estimation this money was not 
necessary for our national security, especially when we are cutting 
nearly every other discretionary spending account as we move toward a 
balanced budget. I remain unconvinced that our defenses need vast 
infusions of new funds, and I disagree with some of defense priorities 
so ardently advocated by the majority.
  Ballistic missile defenses receive $3.3 billion in this bill, which 
is $855 million above what the president requested. I don't think there 
is anyone in this Chamber who would argue against developing and 
deploying missile defense systems to protect our troops in the field. 
But many of my colleagues are anxious to embark on a missile defense 
spending spree that the Congressional Budget Office estimates could 
cost up to $60 billion. I would say to them that not only would that be 
a waste of taxpayer money, but could have the long-term effect of 
squeezing other necessary defense programs from the defense budget. It 
would be ironic if those who profess to care so much about our defenses 
end up undermining them instead.
  I voted for a series of unsuccessful amendments to cut billions of 
dollars from both the Defense authorization and appropriations bills. 
However, I did vote for final passage of the Defense appropriations 
bill. While I disagree with the overall spending figures in the bill, 
Senators Stevens and Inouye did an excellent job of crafting 
legislation which will best serve our military. In particular, I am 
pleased that the bill includes $150 million for peer-reviewed breast 
cancer research, and $100 million for prostate cancer research. In 
addition, the bill provides a full 3 percent pay raise for our troops, 
as well as a 4 percent raise in the basic allowance for quarters. 
Finally, I worked hard to have money added to the bill so that Air 
National Guard F-16 units can maintain a cost-effective force 
structure.
  In closing, I look forward to the results of the nonpartisan, 
independent National Defense Panel created by a 100 to nothing vote 
during the debate on the DOD authorization bill. This Commission will 
be tasked with reviewing our current defense program, and give an 
independent assessment of a variety of possible force structures 
through 2010. We owe it to the Nation to put the Defense Department 
through the same budgetary scrutiny that we are putting virtually every 
other category of Government spending.

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