HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Paying for U.S. Troops Stationed Abroad

The House rejected an amendment that would have given Japan, South Korea and Europe three years to assume the costs of U.S. troops based on their soil or lose the protection. Sponsors said more than half of U.S. military spending, including personnel costs, is for basing troops abroad. The amendment was offered to a $262.8-billion defense authorization bill (HR 2401) for fiscal 1994 that remained in debate.

Sponsor John Bryant (D-Tex.) said, “It’s about time we stopped subsidizing the Europeans and the Japanese and protecting them and took some of that money and started protecting the American people” in such areas as health care, crime prevention and education.

Opponent Floyd Spence (R-S.C.) said, “We keep hearing speakers mistakenly say that we are in Europe to protect Europeans. I’d like to . . . set the record straight. We are in Europe to protect our own varied interests.”

The vote was 195 for and 231 against. A yes vote supported the amendment.

How They Voted:

Rep. Becerra: Yea

Rep. Moorhead: Nay

Funding for Ballistic Missile Defense

The House rejected an amendment to reduce ballistic missile defense (BMD) funding in fiscal 1994 from $3 billion proposed by the Armed Services Committee to $2.8 billion. The vote occurred during debate on HR 2401 (above). BMD is a new Pentagon umbrella term for the former Strategic Defense Initiative and the localized, ground-based Theater Missile Defense that includes weapons such as the Patriot.

Sponsor Patricia Schroeder (D-Colo.) said money saved by her amendment would be put to good use in a Pentagon program that helps defense contractors adjust to a civilian economy.

Opponent H. James Saxton (R-N.J.) said, “The theater missile threat is here and now,” and that the amendment would slow efforts to deal with it.

The vote was 202 for and 227 against. A yes vote was to transfer $229 million from ballistic missile defense to peacetime conversion.

How They Voted:

Rep. Becerra: Yea

Rep. Moorhead: Nay

Funding for D-5 Submarine Missiles

The House refused to strip HR 2401 (above) of $1.2 billion for building 295 additional D-5 missiles for Trident II nuclear-equipped submarines. The missile was developed during the Cold War and is designed to penetrate hardened targets in the former Soviet Union. Savings from this amendment were to have gone to defense conversion programs.

Sponsor Ronald V. Dellums (D-Oakland) said, “The Cold War is over. To talk about fighting nuclear war is madness. . . . This weapons system was designed to hit hard targets. The Soviet Union has exploded on its own.”

Opponents said the D-5 missile and Trident II programs should be fully funded until the future stability of the former Soviet Union is assured.

The vote was 183 for and 240 against. A yes vote was to kill the D-5 missile program.

How They Voted:

Rep. Becerra: Yea

Rep. Moorhead: Nay

Where to Reach Them

Xavier Becerra, 30th District

2435 Colorado Blvd., Suite 200, Los Angeles 90041 (213) 550-8962

Carlos J. Moorhead, 27th District

420 N. Brand Blvd., Room 304, Glendale 91203 (818) 247-8445

Source: Roll Call Report Syndicate