Tony Thurmond: “We have achieved a number of important successes in this bill, and I commend my colleagues for their good judgment.…”

“We have achieved a number of important successes in this bill, and I commend my colleagues for their good judgment. Among these are: Adding $7 billion to the administration's budget request to revitalize the procurement, and research and development accounts which are the core of future readiness; Passing the Missile Defense Act which initiates a policy to deploy a national missile defense system, and prohibits inaccurate interpretation of the ABM Treaty which would serve to limit theater missile defense systems; Correcting the erosion in nuclear weapons capabilities by reasserting that the primary responsibility of the Department of Energy is to strengthen the strategic stockpile; Directing improvements and modifications in nuclear weapons production facilities and supporting important initiatives at the nuclear weapons laboratories; Adequately funding current readiness while reducing funding for nondefense programs; Significantly improving quality of life programs for our troops and their families, including funds for housing, facilities, and real property maintenance; Approving a 2.4-percent pay raise for military members and a 5.2- percent increase in basic allowance for quarters, and achieving COLA equity for retirees; Providing funding for DOD and DOE environmental programs; Establishing a dental insurance program for the selected reserves and an income protection insurance program for self-employed reservists who are mobilized; Providing funding for essential equipment…”