Political Quotes

“I rise to oppose the Bingaman amendment which would cut funding for the space-based laser program--not just cuts it, it devastates the program. In its markup of the DOD authorization bill, the committee increased the funding for the program by $118 million. During the committee's markup, the Senator from New Mexico did offer an amendment to delete the increase. This was defeated in committee on a bipartisan basis. It was not a party-line vote. It is my sincere hope, Mr. President, that the Senate will follow suit as the committee did and defeat this amendment today or tomorrow when we vote. Mr. President, let me explain why additional funds are needed for this very important program. The President's budget request included only $30 million for the space-based laser. This is insufficient funding for the program to continue making the technical progress that it has been making. The Department of Defense is currently considering ways to increase this level of funding in the outyears, but there is a major deficit now for the Fiscal Year 1998. This program, the space-based laser, is the last remaining space-based laser missile defense left. The last one. If we allow the program to die, then we will have wasted well over $1 billion in investment, literally wasted. We will not see the fruits of that investment and we will have given up the option of deploying the most effective national and theater boost phase missile defense system known to man.”