Pete Domenici: “I strongly support H.R. 4103, the Defense appropriations conference report for fiscal year 1999. The pending provides…”

“I strongly support H.R. 4103, the Defense appropriations conference report for fiscal year 1999. The pending provides $250.5 billion in total budget authority and $168.1 billion in new outlays for the Department of Defense and related activities. When outlays from prior years and other adjustments are taken into account, outlays total $245.1 billion. There are some major elements to this bill that are important for the Senate to review. The bill is consistent with the bipartisan balanced budget agreement. It funds a 3.6 percent pay raise for military personnel, rather than the 3.1 percent requested by the administration. It contains quality-of-life enhancements for our Armed Forces, which total $455 million more than was requested. I strongly support this bill, and I urge its adoption. I want to complement the chairman of the Appropriations Committee on his very skillful handling of this important legislation and for his statesmanlike approach to some serious and troubling issues in this year's defense budget.”