Political Quotes

“Ladies and gentlemen, I rise in the strongest opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from California which would eliminate, no questions about it, eliminate the Selective Service peacetime registration program. Mr. Chairman, although I have the greatest respect for the gentleman from California [Mr. Dellums], he really is one of the most respected Members of this body, I have to oppose this for a number of reasons. To begin with, his administration does not support it. I am sure the gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Montgomery] is going to speak to that. Bill Clinton opposes this amendment. In fact, just today the White House announced support for continuing peacetime registration. Second, we debated this issue at length just 6 months ago, and this body voted overwhelmingly to keep the program, 236-194. Mr. Chairman, if the Committee on Armed Services had held even one hearing on this matter, they would have learned that the administration strongly supports peacetime registration. A working group chaired by members of the National Security Council just completed several months of examining all the issues involving Selective Service and concluded that peacetime registration should be kept in place. The National Security Adviser recommended this to the President, and he agreed. Mr. Chairman, peacetime registration is a low-cost insurance policy in a very dangerous world today.”