[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 9, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6781-S6783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000

  Mr. KERREY. Mr. President, the Department of Defense appropriations 
bill passed this chamber with my support. It is no small feat that a 
bill encompassing the size and gravity such as our national security 
can be addressed and passed through the U.S. Senate within the span of 
two days, with few amendments and little rancorous debate. The lion's 
share of the credit for this accomplishment goes to the managers of the 
bill, the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Stevens, 
and the Ranking Member, Senator Inouye. Through their efforts, they 
have again done the work which is the first priority of our government: 
the defense of American independence, lives, and security around the 
world.
  When programs have been consistently successful, it is easy to forget 
that national security and national defense are not a given in the 
political equation. But, national security doesn't just ``happen.'' We 
achieve our national security and defense goals because of the men and 
women honorably serving in our nation's Armed Forces. That security and 
defense is also achieved because Congress passes laws which authorize 
Defense programs and appropriate the funds to pay for them. Our 
contribution to the debate on these bills and our vote on these bills 
is an essential contribution to our nation's defense. It is our role in 
government's most solemn responsibility.
  Given the importance of this responsibility, then, I am encouraged 
that in this bill as well as in the Defense Authorization, the Senate 
has responded to the increased strain on our military caused by today's 
heightened operation tempo. Kosovo adds another requirement to a long 
list of regions in which U.S. deployment or U.S. commitment is 
stretching our military forces and supporting intelligence resources to 
their limit. I have often argued on this floor for allocating our 
defense and intelligence resources on the basis of threat priorities, 
and applying the greatest effort to the most dangerous threat. In the 
same vein, we should avoid overcommitment to places or situations which 
do not present a direct threat to American independence, lives, or 
livelihoods. For example, I think it is a mistake to tie up a 
significant percentage of our Army and Marine combat power in Yugoslav 
peacekeeping operations long term, and I hope our European allies will 
take our places there before very long. But wherever those forces are, 
they must be ready and fully manned, like the air elements of the Air 
Force, Navy, and Marines who performed so brilliantly over Yugoslavia 
these last seven weeks. The Defense Appropriations bill supports them.
  I would now like to take a few minutes to highlight some of the 
vitally important work that is being accomplished within this 
appropriations bill. These are provisions which illustrate that we are 
on the right track in providing for our military and for providing 
security for people back home in Nebraska, across the United States, 
and indeed, throughout the world.
  The backbone of the United States Armed Forces is the men and women 
who choose to serve their country in our military. From the lowest 
grade enlisted soldier to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I salute those who 
serve out of love for their country. Earlier this year, I was proud to 
support S. 4, the Soldiers', Sailors', Airmen's, and Marines Bill of 
Rights Act of 1999, which began to address the problems of pay levels, 
recruitment, and retention facing our military today. S. 4 was a good 
beginning, most markedly by increasing base pay by 4.8 percent. The 
appropriations bill is consistent with that 4.8

[[Page S6782]]

percent pay increase outlined in S. 4, and I am pleased to have 
supported this provision which will directly and immediately better the 
lives of the personnel of our Armed Forces.
  Another aspect of this appropriations bill which I would like to 
mention regards an important provision relating to nuclear weapons. 
During consideration of the Department of Defense Authorization bill 
for fiscal year 2000, I authored an amendment which would have lifted 
the restriction on strategic nuclear weapons levels, allowing the U.S. 
to lower the number of warheads below the START I level. It is my 
belief that my amendment would not only have increased U.S. security, 
but would have freed up billions of dollars for other high priority 
items. The Congressional Budget Office recently conducted a study in 
which it found we could save between $12.7 billion and $20.9 billion 
over the next ten years by reducing U.S. nuclear delivery systems 
within the overall limits of START II.
  While I would like to thank the 43 of my colleagues who supported my 
amendment, it unfortunately did not pass. I do not want to return to 
that debate at this time. However, there is a related program which I 
have previously supported which also deals with national security and 
Russian nuclear weapons--the Former Soviet Union Threat Reduction 
program, otherwise known as Nunn-Lugar. The Nunn-Lugar program provides 
assistance to states of the former Soviet Union for safeguarding 
nuclear materials, dismantling missiles and other weapons, and other 
demilitarization measures. The DoD Appropriations bill funds Nunn-Lugar 
in the amount of $476 million. Additionally, this bill allocates $25 
million of these funds to support the Russian nuclear submarine 
dismantlement and disposal activities started in FY 1998. This is an 
important program that in a very concrete and discernable way, 
increases our security, and I am happy to have supported it.
  Along with programs of national concern, there are a number of 
provisions in this bill that directly allow Nebraska and Nebraskans to 
continue their vital work in safeguarding U.S. national security.
  Offutt Air Force Base, located in Bellevue, Nebraska, is responsible 
for a number of missions which are particularly noteworthy. Offutt, 
with over 10,000 military and civilian personnel, is home to the United 
States Strategic Command, the joint command charged with deterring 
nuclear attacks on our country. There are many threats out there, but 
only one of them, Russian nuclear weapons, is capable of ending our 
national life. STRATCOM's mission may not be in the news that often, 
but it the most essential of all defense missions, and it is commanded 
from Nebraska.

  Offutt Air Force Base also hosts the U.S. Air Force's premiere 
reconnaissance and command-and-control unit, the 55th Wing, the largest 
wing within the Air Force's Air Combat Command. The Fighting 55th's 
aircraft provide global situational awareness to military leaders and 
government officials. It is by now commonplace to say that we live in 
the Information Age. Information has become a precious commodity which 
often can mean the difference between success and defeat. The missions 
that Offutt specializes in focus on gathering this kind of critical 
information. In a variety of ways, Offutt's missions keep us more 
informed, more aware, and more safe. Here are some specifics on the 
various programs.
  The 55th's workhorse aircraft is the RC-135, also known as Rivet 
Joint. The RC-135 mission conducts electronic reconnaissance, providing 
direct, near real-time information and electronic warfare support to 
theater commanders and combat forces monitoring. Rivet Joint has played 
an important role in a number of recent military missions, including 
Kosovo, Bosnia, and Iraq. Information gathered by the RC-135 is made 
available to theater commanders, the Department of Defense and National 
Command Authorities. Data is processed, analyzed and stored by Air 
Combat Command, the Air Intelligence Agency and the National Security 
Agency. I am pleased that the bill passed yesterday appropriates $220.4 
million for the refurbishing and upgrading of these important aircraft. 
Reengining these aircraft is a particularly important improvement.
  The WC-135 fulfills an air sampling mission in support of the Air 
Force Technical Applications Center at Patrick AFB, Florida, by 
verifying compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. It 
gathers information on nuclear tests and conducts baseline air 
sampling. By collecting particles in the air during flight, the WC-135 
is able to detect if and when nuclear tests are conducted or if a 
nuclear bomb is detonated, even from thousands of miles away. 
Considering the nuclear weapons testing last year of both India and 
Pakistan, it is clear that the WC-135 has not outlived its usefulness. 
The WC-135 is the only aircraft throughout the U.S. Air Force 
conducting this vital mission, and we in Nebraska are fortunate to have 
it based at home at Offutt Air Force Base.
  The OC-135, or Open Skies, is tasked to complete photo reconnaissance 
fly-overs. This mission supports the Defense Threat Reduction Agency by 
conducting observation flights in accord with the Open Skies Treaty. 
This treaty will allow the OC-135 to fly over Russian air space to 
monitor weapons reductions treaties. Although the Open Skies Treaty has 
not yet been ratified by all parties, the OC-135 has not been dormant. 
While the Open Skies Treaty awaits ratification, the OC-135 is heavily 
involved in additional photo reconnaissance projects, including 
missions such as weather observations of Hurricane Mitch. The Open 
Skies mission is fully funded through fiscal year 2004.
  Additionally, E-4B aircraft also stationed at Offutt provide 
transport and command and control for the President, the Secretary of 
Defense, and Secretary of State. Much more than simply a transport 
aircraft, the E-4B allows senior officials complete access to critical 
information and communications in a secure fashion, keeping the 
President and others ``in the loop,'' even while in mid-flight.
  Along with Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska continues to make 
important contributions to our national security through components of 
the National Guard and the Reserves. Most recently, these components 
have played important roles in Kosovo alongside their active component 
counterparts.
  The 155th Wing of the Nebraska Air National Guard has been very 
active during the Kosovo mission, flying KC-135s--fuel tanker planes--
above and around Kosovo. These KC-135s perform the remarkable task of 
mid-air refueling for a variety of aircraft, including the B-52 
Stratofortress and the E6. Indeed, over the last several months, the 
Nebraska unit led the KC-135 refueling effort, involving hundreds of 
aircraft, and also was the last volunteer unit engaged in the region 
before the reserve call-up was instituted. This has all been done, even 
though the 155th Wing is the smallest of all the Air Guard wings across 
the country. I applaud their efforts and their successes.
  As well, the Nebraska Army National Guard is currently serving in a 
nine-month deployment in Bosnia as part of the NATO peace-keeping 
forces. The 24th Medical Company is working alongside Guard units from 
across the country to transport patients from the field to hospitals. 
At a time when a robust economy and opportunities in the private sector 
can pull people away from public service, I salute these men and women 
who continue to make sacrifices so that we may be safe.
  The examples I have given here of the hard work being done by our 
Armed Forces are not the exception, but the rule. In a time of tight 
budgets and increased missions, I am proud to say that our Armed Forces 
are second to none around the globe. Even when we continue to ask more 
of our military men and women, they always rise to the challenge. We 
must never forget the risks they take for our sake and the freedoms 
they forego, and we must provide them the best support, conditions, 
equipment, and training possible in return. I am proud to have 
supported passage of the defense appropriations bill yesterday, and I 
hope and expect that we will continue the strong support of those who 
are willing to sacrifice all for the cause of your freedom and mine, 
the men and women of our Armed Forces.

[[Page S6783]]



                          ____________________