June 7, 19 74
Page 18313
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I call up an amendment that I send to the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The amendment will be stated.
The legislative clerk proceeded to read the amendment.
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered; and, without objection, the amendment will be printed in the RECORD.
The amendment, ordered to be printed in the RECORD, is as follows:
On page 7, lines 16 and 17, strike out "Committees of Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives" and insert in lieu thereof the following: "Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Armed Services and Foreign Relations of the Senate".
On page 7, lines 20 and 21, strike out "Committees of Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives" and insert in lieu thereof the following: "Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Armed Services and Foreign Relations of the Senate".
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, on page 7 of the bill there appears the following provision:
The Secretary of Defense shall study the overall concept for use of tactical nuclear weapons in Europe; how the use of such weapons relates to deterrence and to a strong conventional defense; reductions in the number and type of nuclear warheads which are not essential for the defense structure for Western Europe; and the steps that can be taken to develop a rational and coordinated nuclear posture by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Alliance that is consistent with proper emphasis on conventional defense forces.
Mr. President, as I understand it, this provision was sponsored by the distinguished Senator from Georgia (Mr. NUNN). I compliment him for the provision. I think it is a very useful addition to the bill.
The one change my amendment would make is this. The bill provides that the report shall go to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives. My amendment would provide that the report also shall go to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives. Both committees have subcommittees working in the area covered by the Secretary of Defense's report. I think it makes sense that the report be made available to them. I understand the amendment is acceptable to the Senator from Georgia (Mr. NUNN) and the manager of the bill (Mr. STENNIS).
Mr. NUNN. Mr. President, will the Senator yield?
Mr. MUSKIE. I yield.
Mr. NUNN. Mr. President, I not only have no objection, but also I think the Senator makes an excellent point in providing that this important report be made available to the Committee on Foreign Relations. There are many duplications and overlaps between subject matter considered by the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Armed Services. I think a spirit of cooperation in this important area will be beneficial to the Senate, the Department of Defense, and the national security.
I congratulate my colleague and friend from Maine for making this addition.
Mr. GOLDWATER. Mr. President, will the Senator yield?
Mr. MUSKIE. I yield.
Mr. GOLDWATER. Mr. President, I think the Senator from Maine has brought up a very vital subject. The responsibility of the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Armed Services to me almost go hand in glove. I would suggest that both committees meet to determine what areas we both should be interested in.
I note properly that the Committee on Foreign Relations is more and more interested in weaponry, and it would be to our advantage on the Committee on Armed Services to be exposed a little more to the philosophy of foreign policy so we can consider the weaponry and the force which is to apply.
I think both the Senator from Georgia and the Senator from Maine have made useful additions to the bill by this language.
Mr. STENNIS. Mr. President, I join in saying that the amendment to the bill by the Senator from Georgia (Mr. NUNN ) certainly is of value and I think fruits will come from it. I think it is very timely. I want to assure the Senator from Maine that we did not consciously leave out the Committee on Foreign Relations; not in the least, but we did not think about it, either. The Senator has rendered a service.
Mr. MUSKIE. I thank the Senator. As the Senator from Arizona said, there are mutual areas that we should explore. I am grateful to the Senator from Mississippi and the Senator from Georgia.
I wish to add that the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. CASE), who is not on the floor, is a cosponsor of the amendment.
Mr. STENNIS. Mr. President, will the Senator yield?
Mr. MUSKIE. I yield.
Mr. STENNIS. With respect to all these allegations about lack of uniformity between the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Armed Services, there is no basis for those allegations whatever. There is an overlapping of their jurisdiction which grew up, mainly, since World War II because of the change in conditions since World War II. I am glad that I was able to work with the committee and I think all members are, as well as the members of the Committee on Foreign Relations.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr.WILLIAM L. SCOTT). The question is on agreeing to the amendment of the Senator from Maine.
The amendment was agreed to.