[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 173 (Thursday, November 8, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H13303]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
               REMOVE THE EARMARKS FROM THE DEFENSE BILL

  (Mr. FLAKE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. FLAKE. Madam Speaker, the day after the House passed the Labor-
HHS spending bill containing more than 2,000 earmarks, we got a look at 
the Defense bill. What we're finding is troubling to say the least.
  Again, there are more than 2,000 earmarks in this bill, a bill that 
is intended for the military. Now, we all know that earmarks draw funds 
away from more urgent priorities. Nowhere is this more clear than with 
the military spending bill. Simply put, every dollar that Congress has 
earmarked in the Defense bill is a dollar that troops won't have for 
critical equipment.
  What's so important that it diverts money away from soldiers? Well, 
air-dropped into this conference report and this Defense appropriation 
bill, $3 million for a golf program for kids. This earmark might be par 
for the course in any other bill, but in the Defense bill, it's clearly 
indefensible.
  I don't believe that earmarks like this represent the sentiments of 
the country when it comes to military spending, and I urge my 
colleagues to reject the bill until the earmarks are removed.

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