1995 Congressional Material

Floor Debate

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT 1996 (Senate - August 10, 1995) Harkin amendment 2402 to eliminate the $30 million added to the Pentagon request to fund the tactical antisatellite weapons program, tabled.
• CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2126, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996 (House of Representatives - September 25, 1995) approved $30 million for KE-ASAT added by the Senate.
• CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2126, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996 (House of Representatives - November 15, 1995) approved $30 million for KE-ASAT added by the Senate.
• (House of Representatives - December 13, 1995) Defense Authorization conferees direct the Secretary of Defense to include sufficient resources in fiscal year 1997, and throughout the future year defense plan (FYDP), for a user operation evaluation system (UOES) contingency capability to produce 10 kill vehicles with the appropriate boosters by fiscal year 1999

1995 Missile defense votes in the House and the Senate

• Rep. Elizabeth Furse (D-OR) Public Opinion on Nuclear Weapons Issues (House - 17 January 1995)
• Statement by Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-CA) -- We Need Ballistic Missile Defense, (House, 27 January 1995)
• Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) National Security Concerns, (House - February 07, 1995)
• Sen. Robert Packwood recalls the Senate debate on the ratification of the ABM Treaty (10 February 1995)
• Sen. Strom Thurmond (D-SC) introduced S. 383, a bill To provide for the establishment of policy on the deployment by the United States of an antiballistic missile system and of advanced theater missile defense systems. (Senate - 10 February 1995)
• Reps. Cunningham, Hunter and Weldon Colloquy, American Missile Defense (House - 13 February 1995)
• DeFazio Introduces Bill to Kill Star Wars - 16 February 1995.
• Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA) the Defense of Our Country (House - 27 February 1995), including MISSING "Russia Sells Rocket Motors to China" The Washington Times, 13 February 1995, and MISSING"A Red Flag on Technology Sale to China," (By Jack Anderson and Michael Binstein), The Washington Post, Monday 20 February 1995

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• House consideration of the H.R. 872 National Security Restoration Act (House - 15 February 1995), which incorporated the House version of the Missile Defense Act of 1995 included debate on two amendments.
  • The Spence Amendment opposing ongoing negotiations on the ABM Treaty, which after a debate was approved by a roll call vote with 320 ayes, 110 noes and 4 not voting.
  • The session also included debate on the Spratt Amendment that eliminated support for space-based interceptor systems -- this amendment was approved by a roll call vote with 218 ayes, 212 noes and 4 not voting.

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• Statement by Rep. John Linder (R-GA) favoring Star Wars (House - 7 March 1995)
• Theater Missile Defense Act of 1995 (Senate - 6 April 1995)
• Statement by Sen. John Warner (R-VA) on the Theater Missile Defense Act of 1995 (Senate - April 06, 1995)
• Sen.Tom Daschle (D-SD) The President's Trip to Russia (Senate - 10 May 1995)
• Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS) on the Clinton-Yeltsin Moscow summit (Senate - 11 May 1995)
• Statement by Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-CA) Ballistic Missile Defense Through Navy Upper Tier , (House, 7 June 1995)
• Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA) Russian Missile Technology Sold to Brazil, (House - 8 June 1995)

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• House consideration of the H.R. 1530, National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 1996 (House - 14 June 1995) with accompanying Report language, which incorporated the House version of the Missile Defense Act of 1995, started with a general floor debate.
  • The session included debate on the Spratt Amendment affirming commitment to the ABM Treaty, which was defeated by a roll call vote with 185 ayes, 242 noes, and 8 not voting.
  • This session also included a debate on the DeFazio Amendment which would have transferred Star Wars funding to improve living conditions of military personnel. It was defeated by a roll call vote with ayes 178, noes 250, and 6 not voting.

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• Rep. Jack Reed (D-RI) statement opposing Congressional decision to abrogate the ABM Treaty (House - 15 June 1995)
• Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) statement supporting Star Wars during the debate on the Budget Resolution (Senate - 26 June 1995).
• Sen. Dale Bumpers (D-AR) during debate on the Budget Resolution (Senate - 28 June 1995)
• Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) opposed Star Wars during debate on the Budget Resolution (Senate - 29 June 1995)

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• Senate consideration of the FY96 National Defense Authorization Act S.1026 [with accompanying Report language] began with general debate and included votes on two amendements on Thursday 3 August.
  • The Kyle/Inhofe Amendment No. 2077, to state the sense of the Senate on protecting the United States from ballistic missile attack passed with 98 yeas to 1 nay with one abstention (Vote No. 350) with debate in pages S11133-36 of the Congressional Record.
  • The Nunn Amendment No. 2078, as modified was approved by 94 yeas to 5 nays and one abstention (Vote No. 351), with debate reported in pages S11137-53 of the Congressional Record.
  • The general debate resumed on Friday 4 August, and included votes on three amendements.
  • The Dorgan Amendment No. 2087, to reduce the amount authorized to be appropriated under Title II for national missile defense was defeated by 51 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 354) with debate in pages S11227-11239 of the Congressional Record.
  • The Levin Amendment No. 2088, to strike language that: (1) makes it U.S. policy to deploy a multiple-site national missile defense, (2) expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should not try to change the ABM treaty until after a Congressional review, and (3) sets standards for assessing compliance with the ABM treaty, was defeated by 51 yeas to 49 nays (Vote No. 355), with debate reported in pages S11239-11282 of the Congressional Record.
  • The Cohen Amendment No. 2089, to express the sense of Congress on the missile defense of the United States was adopted by 69 yeas to 26 nays (Vote No. 358),with debate on pages S11282-83 and S11304-07 of the Congressional Record. The debate also included discussion of the relationship between non-proliferation and the ABM Treaty by Senator Glenn, as well as addtional remarks by Senator Bumpers.
  • A number of other amendments remained to be offered by August 4th, and the Senate contemplated the threat of a Presidential veto.
  • On August 11th, a bi-partisan compromise amendment was offered by Senators Nunn, Warner, and Levin. A version of the compromise language showing deletions and additions is available. SenatorThurmond commented on the compromise.
  • On Tuesday 5 September, after the August recess, the Senate debated the Nunn-Levin-Warner Amendment No.2425.
  • The Pryor Amendment No. 2452, to establish testing requirements for theater missile defense interceptor missiles, was accepted by the Senate.
  • On Wednesday 6 September debate resumed, with remarks including the submission of an extensive analysis by Senator Glenn's staff of the Missile Defense Act the Senate adopted the Nunn-Levin-Warner amendment to the Missile Defense Act by 85 yeas and 13 nays (Vote No. 398)

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• Senate consideration of the FY96 National Defense Appropriations Act with accompanying Report language concluded on Friday 11 August.

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• House consideration of the FY96 National Defense Appropriations Act with accompanying Report language passed the House on September 7 and was sent to conference committee.

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• The House rejected the defense appropriations conference report on September 29 by a vote of 151-267. The bill was rejected mainly by the strength of pro-life members who wanted restore language banning abortions on U.S. military bases overseas.

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• Press Release -- Rep. Hoke Introduces Defend America Act News Release - 17 October 1995 - Prominent members of the national defense community are lining up in support of the Defend America Act of 1995 which will be introduced in the House today. Expected to participate in the news conference are William R. Graham and Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.
• On October 17th a bill that would require U.S. withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty was introduced into the House.

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• On November 16 the House and Senate passed the $243 billion defense appropriations conference bill which added nearly $7 billion to the administration's request. Most of the additional money was used for new arms and to accelerate new weapons including anti-missile defenses. President Clinton decided not to veto the bill and let it become law without his signature on December 1.
  • Rep. Hunter spoke in favor of the bill, including provisions raising spending on national missile defenses and other military programs.

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• Senate consideration of the START II Ratification instrument was released from the grip of Senator Helms's dispute with the Administration over consideration of his proposal to reorganize foreign policy agencies. The breakthrough came after an unusual filibuster by Senator Bingaman of New Mexico on 6 December 1995.
• The Treaty was debated on December 22nd. A few members of Congress have tried to delay a vote until the President agrees to their wishes on national missile defenses. At the time it was anticipated that when it comes up for a vote, the START II treaty would be ratified by a vote of at least 90-10.

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• Senate debate on ballistic missile defenses occurred during consideration of the Defense Authorization Conference Report on December 15th, December 18th and December 19th. The Senate voted in favor of the Conference Report on the 19th, sending the bill to the President.
• The Authorization bill, containing provisions on ballistic missile defenses that were unacceptable to the President, was vetoed on December 28th.