Mark Neumann: “this is an amendment to freeze defense spending at last year's levels. It is no big secret in this Nation that elections…”

“this is an amendment to freeze defense spending at last year's levels. It is no big secret in this Nation that elections are coming up in November of this year and I have become accustomed to hearing an awful lot of demagoguing. I hope this amendment passes so that there will be no demagoguing come the fall elections this year about defense spending increasing. Mr. Chairman, if we pass this amendment, defense spending is frozen. Period. It is not an increase or decrease. It is frozen, period. And there should be no demagoguing going into the fall elections after we pass this amendment. This amendment freezes defense spending at last year's level. Last year's level was $243 billion. Next year's level would be $243 billion if this is passed. What about defense spending and where does this rate in priorities of the Nation? I think defense spending is one of the highest priorities of the Nation and should be treated that way. But does that mean defense spending should not be treated with the same scrutiny that all other parts of the budget are? Mr. Chairman, I personally think we need to develop a missile defense system for this Nation.”