Tina Smith: “The amendment appears to make the program self-sustaining, but in fact it terminates the program flat out. He says that…”

“The amendment appears to make the program self-sustaining, but in fact it terminates the program flat out. He says that the CMP should be self-sustaining. He states that the program is terrible; in fact, it is outrageous, he says. I think the goal here is to portray the Civilian Marksmanship Program as dangerous and wasteful, perhaps an agenda here which is to terminate the entire program. Let me just use some phrases that the Senator from New Jersey has used in debate here. The Senator from New Jersey says, ``Located deep inside the massive 1996 Defense Authorization Act, there is a small provision that was slipped into the defense bill.'' Both the House and the Senate bills contained very detailed provisions to transition this Civilian Marksmanship Program from the Federal Government. This is not something that was deep inside a massive bill that was slipped in. It is actually 14 sections in a separate title. Title 16, Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety. It is almost 10 pages. So it is not a little, insignificant item that was somehow slipped into this bill. It is very clear. It is not a small provision. It certainly is not in any way hidden. It is very much a part of the bill and easy to find.”