Ronald Dellums

Significant philanthropic efforts are under way at the Presidio where sizeable pledges have been made to the National Park Service. In addition to the potential threat to philanthropic interests, it would be difficult for the Presidio…

There is considerable concern, I would like to say to my distinguished colleague from Colorado, at both the local level and the Federal level, that the environmental cleanup proposed by the Department of the Army for the Presidio in San…

The gentleman knows for over a decade, the quarter of a century I have been here, I have never tried to impugn anyone's integrity. It was not designed to challenge the gentleman. I am always prepared to debate on the substance. I thank the…

It would place a limit on U.S. costs for handling the expansion of NATO to 10 percent of the total cost, or $2 billion, whichever is lesser, for fiscal years 1998 through 2010. With respect to background, Mr. Speaker, Congress, the House…

I believe the gentleman is absolutely correct, he has beefed up these provisions and I think appropriately. I would be more than happy to work with the gentleman in the context of the conference to move it in the direction of the…

I would simply yield myself 30 seconds to say that this is a debate that takes us beyond rhetoric, and I think to use the term rhetoric is not advisable in the context of this debate. We are talking about life and death here, and to demean…

Mr. Chairman, when the gentleman talked about conventional deterrents, it is not in the platform, it is in the weapons. And the weapons are standoff smart bombs and precision-guided missiles. Second, remember, we do not have zero, we have…

I just felt compelled to make that observation. I think that disadvantages a number of Members on both sides of the aisle, but that is just my observation, and leadership going to have to make the judgment that they choose to make…

To establish some reality to people who are listening to this debate, we already have 350 of these missiles. The debate is whether we buy 84 additional ones. I am saying that is the build up to build down. In my proposal we can stay within…

One very quick response to the gentleman is: The logic. Do we build up to build down. To build up we are going to spend billions of dollars and we know we are ultimately going to build down. That is the answer to the gentleman's point…

I would assert here, very straightforward and very aggressively, that how a Nation chooses to spend its money is a profound statement about a Nation's principles, its values and its priorities. And in that regard I am extremely proud to…

I would simply concur in the explanation of the amendment offered by my distinguished colleague from South Carolina, Mr. Spence. The amendment provides that the President must act consistent with United Nations Participation Act, simply…

In 45 seconds let me reiterate, the administration submits a budget request. In this instance, they submitted a budget request based upon what we asked them to do. We said ``Don't spend defense dollars.'' The Secretary said, ``OK. Whether…

I would just say let us accept the efficacy of the gentleman's argument that the Russians are bad guys. If they are, then those are the very people we want to help dismantle the weapons, so I accept the gentleman's argument and come to a…

The practical effect of the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York is to put constraints and cause certifications that the President could never certify, which means we would kill the program.

Mr. Chairman, I take a few moments to express my concerns with H.R. 3230, the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 1997. ... Careful thinking would conclude that there is no modernization crisis.

I thank the gentleman. Quickly, if I hear the gentleman correctly, then, he is suggesting that no amendments in perpetuity will be allowed to cut any other budget other than the military budget; housing, welfare, education, all these other…

My quick response to the gentleman is that deterrence has worked. We have not thrown nuclear weapons at each other, but we are fighting out there in regions of the world. We fought in Desert Storm. That is a reality. This missile exchange…

The gentleman now raises a question about theater ballistic missiles. The proponent of the amendment before the body at this point has squarely put that issue before us, saying that that is a significant priority. However, the gentleman's…

We have theater ballistic missile programs coming out of the ears. The gentleman knows it, and so do I.

The gentleman knows that both of us are very articulate people. We need not put words in each other's mouth. I am saying very specifically, you have got the votes. Go on and accept the amendment. Let's not filibuster this issue. Let's get…

Let me first respond to my colleague by saying, look, we all know there are very significant amendments here. Take the amendment. Every time you call for a vote, you take out of the debate much more significant amendments that we need to…

I am simply saying I oppose the overall bill for the very constitutional principles the gentleman articulates, and if we are going to do it, give the President the full prerogatives. If you are going to dive off the bridge, give the…

As I was saying, this gentleman would be constrained to oppose the amendment, Mr. Chairman, because if we are going to have this thing, I oppose it, but if we are going to have it, then give the President the total prerogative. By…