[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 22 (Monday, February 8, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E154-E155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A RESONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S PRESENTATION OF THE DEFENSE BUDGET TO 
                                CONGRESS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 2, 1999

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in defense of the men and 
women who protect our freedom around the world. The military budget 
proposed by President Clinton is woefully inadequate and we must work 
together to ensure that Congress corrects its failures and 
shortcomings.
  The increasing instability around the world threatens America's 
allies as well as American interests. Even as I speak, our sons and 
daughters who serve are targeted by Iraqi missiles and scores of 
terrorist forces abroad. Today, the Administration is contemplating 
further troop deployments in Kosovo.
  America's military is now spread further around the world than at any 
time in our history. Yet the President still fails to provide our

[[Page E155]]

soldiers with the resources they need to protect freedom and even to 
protect themselves. The President's military budget proposal is long on 
rhetoric and short on correcting the many gaps in readiness that have 
developed over years of neglect under his administration. While the 
President's budget hands out billions to government bureacracies and 
bloated federal agencies, it falls well short of any serious attempt to 
provide for the safety of our troops.
  The truth is, we aren't keeping our promises to those who serve. You 
can look no further than our military personnel retention rates to see 
what years of grossly under-funded budgets have done to morale 
throughout the service. Highly trained men and women are leaving the 
miltary in record numbers. The Navy's loss of aviators, many of whom 
are stationed near my district in San Diego, has reached a critical 
level. In some cases, we no longer even have the necessary personnel to 
staff our carriers.
  Mr. Speaker, our military personnel are the finest in the world. The 
readiness and safety of those who protect freedom should not be 
sacrificed for the personal legacy of a self-absorbed President. It's 
time we provide them with the best equipment and training available. 
Anything less is unacceptable.

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