Tony Thurmond: “last month the Senate debated the Defense supplemental appropriations bill. Although I supported this legislation, I…”

“last month the Senate debated the Defense supplemental appropriations bill. Although I supported this legislation, I expressed my dismay that the Appropriations Committee chose to fully offset the $1.9 billion supplemental from the fiscal year 1995 Defense budget. In a practical sense, that action cut the Defense budget by almost $2.0 billion at a time when the readiness levels of our Armed Forces are teetering on the edge. Since 1985, the Defense budget has decreased by 40 percent in buying power. The 1995 Defense budget, which is being used to fund the Administration's ill-conceived foreign ventures, has already been reduced by $40 billion below the 1990 budget even without the reduction in purchasing power from inflation. Today, with this supplemental, we add insult to injury by further cutting the 1995 Defense budget to fund domestic programs. The committee's amendment to H.R. 1158 further reduces the already constrained Defense budget by over $200 million, including the $104 million in critical base closure funds, $27 million for projects to meet environmental responsibilities at our overseas base, and $69 million for NATO infrastructure funding. I must point out the irony here, in the committee's attempt to reduce funding, it may actually be increasing the cost to the Department by rescinding the NATO funds. I am advised that these funds have all been obligated and this rescission may require breaking contracts and therefore incurring additional costs.”