December 17, 1975
Page 41207
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS SUBMITTED ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS, FISCAL YEAR 1976 — CONFERENCE REPORT
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, the conference report accompanying the Department of Defense appropriation bill for fiscal year 1976 deserves the support of the Senate, and I am glad to compliment the effort made by our conference colleagues on H.R. 9861. At a time of a mounting Federal deficit and debt, the conferees have kept the spending level of this largest appropriations bill below the levels previously passed by the Senate and within the national defense totals assumed for this legislation in the second budget resolution.
The fiscal year 1976 DOD appropriations bill, as agreed to in conference, amounts to $90.5 billion in budget authority and $64.3 billion in outlays, both being under target in budget authority and in outlays. As chairman of the Committee on the Budget, I welcome these results.
I particularly wish to congratulate the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, Mr. McCLELLAN, for his leadership on this measure. At a time of pressing and often conflicting national interests, he has worked to balance fiscal responsibility and national security.
For the past several months, the Senate Budget Committee has carefully considered the national defense function of the Federal budget. Our work has been diligent and serious. Our intentions have been to carry out the mandate of the Congressional Budget Act.
I believe our work has been effective. Perhaps nowhere is this better demonstrated than in the final outcome of the defense appropriation bill for fiscal 1976. The President and his advisers vigorously sought an appropriation too much for defense needs. The Budget Committees in both Houses sought a level which would eliminate unnecessary spending yet maintain essential military programs. In the best tradition of democratic deliberation and debate, the two Appropriations Committees agreed.
In short, Mr. President, I salute Senator MCCLELLAN and the other Senate conferees for their attention to detail and their prudence. I shall vote for this conference report.