[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 38 (Wednesday, April 10, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2481-S2482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    U.S. ARMY STRYKER COMBAT VEHICLE

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I want to take this opportunity to 
address the importance of the Army's Stryker

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combat vehicle, what used to be called the Interim Armored Vehicle, 
being developed at Anniston Army Depot.
  The Stryker is a new generation family of highly transportable 
wheeled combat vehicles capable of rapidly deploying anywhere in the 
world. The Stryker vehicles roll onto a C-130 aircraft and roll off 
ready to fight anywhere and anytime including complex and urban warfare 
contingencies. They are lethal, survivable and will be engaged in the 
War on Terrorism in the months to come.
  If they were available today, Stryker vehicles would be deployed in 
the mountains of Afghanistan and ably assisting in the elimination of 
al-Qaida and other enemies of this country. They would be providing 
ground-based firepower and protection for our soldiers on the 
frontlines.
  The Stryker family embodies Army Transformation. It is the foundation 
of the Army's Interim Brigade Combat Teams that will be the spearhead 
of most conflicts envisioned in the next decade. The Army intends on 
procuring 2,131 Strykers and this Congress must do everything it can to 
ensure the Army is able to deliver on its promise to our soldiers.
  Let me tell you, we cannot get these vehicles in the soldiers' hands 
fast enough. As it is, the Army and the joint venture designing and 
developing the Stryker family have done an incredible job delivering 
the initial vehicles this past February less than a year after the 
start of work. I believe such a rapid delivery may be unprecedented in 
modern times for a military program of this scope. The Army and the 
Joint Venture are to be commended.
  In the fiscal year 2003 defense budget, the President has requested 
$812 million in procurement and $124 million in research and 
development for the Stryker vehicle. I hope this Congress will fully 
support this request and throw its support behind a program critical to 
our national security today and tomorrow.
  The Army recently named the vehicles Stryker in honor of two fallen 
enlisted soldiers who died 20 years apart but shared the same name. 
Both won the Medal of Honor. Specialist 4th Class Robert Stryker died 
in Vietnam when he threw himself onto a claymore mine as it detonated 
thus saving the lives of his comrades nearby. Stuart Stryker died in 
World War II when he led a platoon into an assault on Nazi headquarters 
near the end of the war. Though he was killed in the raid, three 
members of an American bombing crew were rescued from the building.
  We should not let those who serve this great Nation down. We must 
support ably and strongly the Stryker combat vehicle program.

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