Sam Gibbons: “the first responsibility of Congress and this government is to protect the citizens of the United States from an outside…”

“the first responsibility of Congress and this government is to protect the citizens of the United States from an outside attack and to be prepared to defend this great Nation. It appears that the Clinton administration, however, has woefully failed in this responsibility. If true, then they have failed this Congress, and regrettably they have failed America. I strongly support House Resolution 463 to establish a Select Committee on U.S. National Security to examine the illegal transfer of classified U.S. technology to Communist China. Mr. Speaker, this is not a partisan issue, this is not politics as usual. This is a national security issue that cuts to the very core of what we stand for and what we believe. We have equipped our military with the finest technology in the world. To deliberately allow that technology to fall into the hands of enemies places each and every soldier, sailor, airmen and marine at risk. Ultimately it needlessly places the Nation at risk. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. It is the right thing to do, our national security demands it, our military deserves it, our Nation expects it.”