J. Exon: “in the limited time that I have remaining I would like to have the opportunity to recap the arguments for the Exon…”

“in the limited time that I have remaining I would like to have the opportunity to recap the arguments for the Exon amendment. I would first like to point out for the full understanding of all that this is the only amendment that has any chance or likelihood of passage for making any meaningful reduction not previously contemplated in the defense budget. I voted against the previous amendment by Senator Wellstone that would have reduced and eliminated all of the $13 billion increase over and above what was requested in the President's budget and not requested in the Pentagon's budget. I simply say that all should understand that in essence the Exon amendment sponsored by many of my colleagues is in net effect reducing by only $2.4 billion the spending authorized by the Armed Services Committee and the combined action with the budget resolution. That is a far cry from the attempt by the Senator from Minnesota that--which this Senator had some sympathy for--I voted against, an attempt to show how reasonable and how minimal the approach is as being offered by this Senator from Nebraska and several of my colleagues.”