J.C. Watts: “I am pleased that this body is taking up the fiscal year 2002 Defense appropriations bill today. As our courageous…”

“I am pleased that this body is taking up the fiscal year 2002 Defense appropriations bill today. As our courageous military servicemen ``fight the good fight'' in Central Asia today, there is hardly a more pressing time for the passage of this bill. The amount of $317.5 billion, $19 billion over last year's level, is an important first step in both waging the war on terrorism and addressing readiness shortfalls that have been years in the making. Especially important in this bill is the $1.7 billion addition we added for a ``rapid-response capability'' for the war against terrorism. I also applaud the Appropriations Committee for providing for $7.9 billion for ballistic missile defense, an increase of $2.7 billion over last year. Combating weapons of mass destruction could never be more important than it is today. ... This body has correctly taken the lead on the threats we face today.”