Herbert H. Bateman: “I will comment that this debate is about priorities. The priority here is the overriding priority of providing for our…”

“I will comment that this debate is about priorities. The priority here is the overriding priority of providing for our national defense which is not only an obligation, it is a constitutional obligation, and this amendment would strike at the heart of our ability to perform that responsibility. O&M accounts, personnel accounts are exempted under this amendment which means that it falls even more heavily on all the other accounts in the Department of Defense and it would be an onerous, intolerable burden and would indeed, even though it does not come under my Readiness subcommittee, be a tremendous detriment to the status of readiness of our military forces. This amendment deserves resounding defeat.”