[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 99 (Wednesday, July 14, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1541]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  THE NAVY NEEDS THE TOMAHAWK MISSILE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES V. HANSEN

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 14, 1999

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, some of you may have been surprised to learn 
that the Tomahawk missile is obsolete. According to a recent AP story 
the premier strike weapon in the Navy and the hero of Desert Storm is 
obsolete.
  This unbelievable story not only surprised me but it surprised the 
Navy and the Joint Chiefs.
  As late as April 20 of this year the Navy and Joint Chiefs of Staff 
certified a combat requirement of 4,000 Tomahawk missiles. Today, the 
navy has half this number.
  This administration has fired over 700 Tomahawks in just the last 
twelve months. We have replaced zero and shut down the production line 
last year.
  Luckily, our fine Chairman of the procurement subcommittee took this 
shortage head on. We added almost 900 million dollars to the 
supplemental and the defense authorization bills--to replace these 
missiles and put the Navy on track to fulfill its national security 
requirement.
  The Navy does need Tomahawk, if you don't believe me just call them 
your self.
  Tomahawk is the Presidential weapon of choice except when it come to 
the budget. Support our Chairman, support the Navy, support the 
Tomahawk missile and ignore the nay sayers.

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