Joe Cunningham: “Mr. Chairman, again I would like to thank the gentleman from New York (Chairman Walsh). The gentleman has had a…”

“Mr. Chairman, again I would like to thank the gentleman from New York (Chairman Walsh). The gentleman has had a difficult time finding different offsets for different programs. Although we operate under a balanced budget and we feel for our children and grandchildren, it is best in the long run to go through this process. The amendment that I have restores the funding for the Selective Service program. We have done so with the support of the committee staff in going through what those offsets are. Each program is minimally impacted to the point that it does not affect their operation. I would like to thank both sides of the aisle for the bipartisan support. The Secretary of Defense, Secretary Cohen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff, and all the service chiefs, along with all veterans groups, support this amendment to restore the Selective Service System. It is time-proven. Since World War I, we have had a strange dichotomy that our men and women fight our wars, and then we scale down. Then we have had to gear up, with dissipating effect. Active duty and reserves make up the primary source of our Nation's military. Selective Service is a third tier to prepare our sources and our military to gear up in time of national emergency.”