[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 83 (Friday, May 28, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E994]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011

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                               speech of

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 27, 2010

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5136) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2011 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe 
     military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
     other purposes:

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Chair, I rise to oppose out of control war and defense 
spending. This bill (H.R. 5136) would authorize a record $726 billion 
for defense. Congress refuses to find money to maintain COBRA premium 
assistance for jobless workers, but somehow we can afford yet another 
increase to our already bloated defense budget.
  We should recognize that this legislation would fix a long-standing 
injustice by creating a path for the repeal of ``Don't Ask, Don't 
Tell.'' I was proud to vote for the Murphy Amendment and I look forward 
to the day when LGBT Americans enjoy equal rights in all facets of 
society, including marriage. Although I strongly support the repeal of 
``Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'' I cannot vote for this legislation.
  The waste in this bill is shameful. It includes $361.6 million more 
than the Pentagon wants for a missile defense program that doesn't 
work, and $485 million in funding for another engine for a fighter jet 
that already has a working engine. I offered an amendment that would 
have cut the extra funding for missile defense, but it was not allowed 
to come to the floor for a vote. An amendment to strike money for a 
duplicative engine that the Pentagon doesn't want or need was also 
defeated.
  Congress needs to get our priorities in order. We should be working 
to create jobs and assisting those impacted by the recession, not 
continue runaway defense spending. I urge all of my colleagues to 
oppose this wasteful bill.

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