John Spratt: “this program will go from today's modest level to $510 million in just 10 years. When it gets to that level, it is going…”

“this program will go from today's modest level to $510 million in just 10 years. When it gets to that level, it is going to crowd out and preclude something else. The ABL, on the other hand, the airborne laser, needs money to buy, number one, a second airframe, a Boeing 747; and, number two, and even more critically, it needs some money to buy long lead time items that will make this airframe a suitable platform for a laser that will weigh 200,000 to 250,000 pounds and has to have absolute stability if it is going to work and be functional at all. What we would put back in this budget, we would take the money out of one program and put it back in the ABL so we could buy those critical long lead items. If we do not buy those critical items, if we let the $30 million deletion stand in this budget, we are going to find that this program is going to be stretched out and out and out, and it is not going to be ready to be tested to determine whether or not the power system, the laser system, will have the power necessary to be an effective system by the year 2005 or 2007. Mr. Chairman, this is a very constructive amendment, and it does not take a dime out of the overall program. It will enhance the prospects for boost-phase intercept. It will ensure that the money we are spending on ballistic missile defense is being spent more effectively and is being spent towards accomplishing the purposes that we have set out for the program. I urge support for this amendment.”