Cord Byrd: “the conference on the Fiscal Year 1997 Department of Defense Authorization bill has been concluded. In many respects…”

“the conference on the Fiscal Year 1997 Department of Defense Authorization bill has been concluded. In many respects, the bill has been improved in conference over both the House- and Senate-passed versions. Policy provisions have been dropped that might have led us into needless conflict with Russia and that might have jeopardized strategic arms reductions which make the whole world safer. I commend the conferees, under the able leadership of Senator Thurmond and Senator Nunn, for these changes. I would note also that this is Senator Nunn's last defense conference. I congratulate him on the selfless and dedicated service he has given to the Senate Armed Services Committee, to the Senate, to the people of Georgia, and to the Nation. I shall miss his thoughtful analysis and cogent arguments of security threats facing this nation. Although action was taken on the floor to bring the bill into line with the Budget Resolution, at $265.6 billion, it is still $11 billion over the administration's request of $254.3 billion. It is hard to imagine that $254.3 billion is not sufficient to maintain our nation's military forces, but it was adjudged to be too little to maintain our defense establishment. I earlier expressed my hope that the amount might be reduced in conference, but it has not been.”