[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 106 (Friday, July 31, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9606-S9607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              FISCAL YEAR 1999 DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL

 Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I want to congratulate the Chairman 
and Ranking Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee--Senator 
Stevens and Senator Inouye, respectively--for finishing work on this 
appropriations

[[Page S9607]]

bill. Every year their Subcommittee does the vitally important work of 
balancing the multitude of priorities that make up this nation's 
defense. Their work becomes more important every year as our nation 
leaves behind the more predictable Cold War era.
  I am pleased that this bill contains full funding for the second New 
Attack Submarine. This highly capable and relatively inexpensive class 
of submarines will take a lead role in the defense of this nation well 
into the 21st century. This submarine is exactly the type of military 
asset that we will rely on in the years to come. It is multi-mission 
capable, it will make use of new technology as it develops, and it will 
be able to remain on station at all corners of the earth.
  This bill also provides for the helicopter needs of the Army and the 
National Guard. Both the Blackhawk and the Comanche helicopter programs 
achieved significant increases beyond the President's request. This 
year, strong Congressional support brought the number of Blackhawk-type 
helicopters from the 22 requested by the Administration to 34. I hope 
that as the Administration develops the Fiscal Year 2000 defense 
budget, it will take into account the fact that the Army, Navy, and 
National Guard need these helicopters sooner rather than later. We need 
36 helicopters per year to fulfill requirements expeditiously and to 
trigger the savings that would come from a purchase of that size. The 
Comanche helicopter, still in development, enjoys a similar level of 
Congressional support that is matched only by the support it enjoys at 
the Pentagon. This bill's support for the Comanche is reassuring.
  I am particularly pleased that two amendments that I offered to this 
bill were accepted. The first will expand the Defense Department's 
programs aimed at monitoring and researching Lyme Disease. The disease 
is a serious problem in the Northeast and is listed by the Defense 
Department as a militarily significant disease for troops stationed 
within the United States and deployed worldwide. The sooner we confront 
this disease with the necessary resources, the sooner the Defense 
Department and this nation will be able to avoid the significant losses 
from this terrible disease.
  Also, I am glad that the Senate included my amendment that will 
eliminate the delay in processing Army pensions. All military retirees 
are due a pension and medical benefits beginning at age 60. My 
amendment will ensure that pensioners receive their payments and 
benefits on time. Mr. Arthur Greenberg, of Hamden, Connecticut, first 
brought this problem to my attention several weeks ago. He wrote a 
letter to me and stated that the Army had told him that he would not 
receive his pension or medical benefits until nine months after his 
60th birthday. To my surprise, Mr. Greenberg's case was not an isolated 
incident. The Army told me that 40% of its caseload was backlogged. 
This is absolutely unsatisfactory, and that is why I put this amendment 
forward. This amendment directs the Secretary of the Army to eliminate 
the backlog by the end of this calendar year and to submit a report to 
Congress on the matter. I fully expect that those who put their lives 
at risk to defend this nation will soon begin to receive their pensions 
and benefits, as expected, on their 60th birthday.
  In sum, this bill is a responsible effort to provide for the national 
defense for Fiscal Year 1999. The New Attack Submarine, Comanche and 
Blackhawk helicopters, F-22 and F/A-18 fighters, C-17 cargo aircraft, 
and the many other assets that this bill funds are vitally important to 
protecting our way of life and our interests throughout the world. As 
usual, the men and women in my home state of Connecticut, whether they 
serve in the military or in the defense industry, will play important 
roles with respect to this bill. Overall, I support this bill, and I am 
glad that this body has nearly unanimously agreed on it.

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