[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 22, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H8473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PORKER OF THE WEEK AWARD

  (Mr. HEFLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. HEFLEY. A study from the General Accounting Office reveals that 
President Clinton's trips last year to Africa, China, and Chile cost 
more than $72 million. The President's six-nation tour of Africa 
required advanced, 10 separate advance, trips to arrange the itinerary, 
1300 military and civilian officials, more than 200 White House aides, 
13 helicopters and enough equipment to require 98 air cargo missions, 
all at a cost of $43 million. A 10-day trip to China costs nearly $19 
million, and a 4-day regional summit in Chile had a $10.8 million price 
tag. Of the 72.1 million total for these three trips, 84 percent was 
charged to the Defense Department.
  At a time when Bill Clinton is gutting defense budgets and asking for 
military personnel to do more with less it is offensive that he draws 
tens of millions of dollars for presidential trips that yield very 
little. Instead of perpetuating the 13-year downward defense spending 
cycle this administration has continually promoted, Clinton should 
build up America's military that he so readily uses.
  Does not it appear excessive to pin $72 million on three trips billed 
as goodwill tours? Bill Clinton gets my ``Porker of the Week Award.''

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