C. W. Bill Young: “Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Chairman, we have kept our promises to the American people. We have made the hard cuts in spending, while…”

“Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Chairman, we have kept our promises to the American people. We have made the hard cuts in spending, while we are maintaining a strong defense for our Nation. Keeping our Nation strong means having a vision into the future defense of this country and having the ability and the technology to carry out our Nation's objectives. We have heard many arguments for and against the B-2. We have heard about the cost benefits and the strategic benefits. We have heard about capabilities, performance, and jobs. But the B-2 is about people. It is about our men and women who serve this country in uniform. It is about giving them the equipment and technology to defend and protect our Nation and its principles in time of conflict. We have that technology today. Here it is. Technology that allows our Department of Defense to risk the fewest American lives in time of conflict. The B-2 stands ready as a system designed to protect this Nation from threat of war and minimize the loss of life. Let us face it, that is what we are really talking about here is lives. Is it a difficult choice? Of course, it is. Most likely, one of the most difficult votes a Member will have to cast this year. But this is a vote which carries with it a vision for the future; the future of this Nation's defense posture and the task of keeping America strong.”