Daniel Inouye: “the matter before us goes much deeper than the gallant lady, the U.S.S. Missouri. It involves the process of competition…”

“the matter before us goes much deeper than the gallant lady, the U.S.S. Missouri. It involves the process of competition in the U.S. Government. Every day there is some competition. There is a competition between two great manufacturing plants to see whether this plant should build a tank or that plant. There are competitions going on as to what company should build the joint strike fighter or the C-17 or the B-2. Should it be Boeing? Should it be McDonnell Douglas? These competitions are part of the life of the U.S. Government. And if we look upon this measure before us as a simple Missouri amendment, then we have not seen the deeper picture; we will be setting a very, very dangerous precedent, Mr. President. This competition was won fairly and impartially. If the Congress of the United States is to take a step to overturn this decision, then what will happen to all the other competitions that we have been faced with? Whenever there is a contest on who would build that submarine-- should it be Norfolk or should it be Connecticut?--if Connecticut wins, should Norfolk come to the Congress and appeal the case, or vice versa? Mr. President, let me just read once again from the letter from the Secretary of the Navy. The Secretary says--and this is from a letter dated June 10; and it is part of the Record at this moment: I have reviewed the General Accounting Office report . . . and I find that it contains nothing that would warrant reopening the process.…”