[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 82 (Monday, June 22, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H4883]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            NATIONAL DEFENSE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Petri). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 21, 1997, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Jones) is recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, over the last recess, while attending several 
Memorial Day services, I spent time focusing on the state of our 
dwindling national defense. By failing to maintain a strong military, 
we are dishonoring those who have served and died for our freedom. 
Unfortunately, the next century will not be as peaceful as once 
envisioned.
  Surprising the U.S. intelligence community, India and Pakistan have 
conducted nuclear weapons tests. It has been reported that Iraq has 
enough deadly biological weapons to kill every human being on earth. 
Just last week North Korea threatened the United States that they would 
not cease the production of nuclear weapons unless they were 
compensated. Despite administration claims that no nuclear missiles are 
aimed at American children, a CIA report reveals that 13 of China's 18 
long-range strategic missiles have nuclear warheads aimed at U.S. 
cities.
  Mr. Speaker, we do not live in a safe world. America faces new 
threats and dangers each and every day, and yet we continue to take 
risks with our military capabilities that would have been unthinkable a 
generation ago.
  Our forces today are 32 percent smaller than they were just 10 years 
ago. In 1992 we had 18 Army divisions; we now have 10. In 1992 we had 
24 fighter wings; we now have 13. In 1992 we had 546 Navy ships; we now 
have less than 300. In the last year the Navy has cut the Arsenal Ship, 
delayed the development of the next generation aircraft carrier, and 
cut its near term purchase of tactical aircraft by 45 percent.
  This month the Army announced that it would downsize 6 divisions, 
cutting troop level 13 percent. Today I just read that the Marine 
Corps' entire procurement budget is now less than 1 week's worth of 
sales at Wal-Mart.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to repeat that. The Marine Corps' entire 
procurement budget is now less than 1 week's worth of sales at Wal-
Mart.
  Our forces are dwindling and yet new threats to our freedoms are ever 
increasing. Quite frankly, we are taking our freedom for granted. The 
American family feels protected and safe. Mom and dad tell their 
children that they live in a peaceful world. They rest easy, hoping 
their government is adequately defending America.
  But what they do not know is that right now, while nuclear missiles 
are aimed at U.S. cities, our troops do not even have the basic 
ammunition they need. The Army is $1.7 billion short of basic 
ammunition, and the Marine Corps has a shortfall in ammunition of over 
$193 million.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to repeat that also. The Army is $1.7 billion 
short of basic ammunition, and the Marine Corps has a shortfall in 
ammunition of over $193 million. What they do not know is that in May, 
a Navy fighter squadron commander informed his superiors that only two 
of his squadron's 14 Tomcat fighter jets are mission capable because of 
a lack of spare parts.
  He said in his official report, and I quote, I strongly believe that 
it is my duty to protect my aircrews. Living at the end of the parts 
food chain can present difficult challenges and obstacles that may be 
unmanageable. We no longer have the tools to do our job. We must 
provide aircrews with the necessary flights to get them combat ready 
for the safety of this Nation.
  We are not telling the American people about the state of our 
military, Mr. Speaker. I and many of my colleagues in Congress have 
called upon the administration, senior military and the press to tell 
the hard truth to the American people.
  While the President has cut defense nearly in half, he has deployed 
our troops 25 times during his tenure. In fact, the President has 
deployed U.S. troops more often than any other President in peacetime 
since World War II. These peacekeeping deployments have cost the 
taxpayers over $13 billion and have bled our forces. The reality is our 
troops are learning peacekeeping and forgetting war fighting.
  These peacekeeping deployments have also kept our men and women in 
uniform away from their homes and families for lengthy periods of time 
and have thereby decreased their morale.
  We cannot continue to ask our military to do more with less. In the 
name of those who have fought and who have died for this country, we 
must continue to maintain our military readiness. I urge my colleagues 
to help preserve our freedom and security. We must support our armed 
forces.
  May God bless America.

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