E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 104 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

Vol. 141 WASHINGTON, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1995 No. 139 House of Representatives

The House met at 9 a.m. and was CUNNINGHAM] come forward and lead Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield called to order by the Speaker pro tem- the House in the Pledge of Allegiance. myself such time as I may consume. pore [Mr. KOLBE]. Mr. CUNNINGHAM led the Pledge of Mr. Speaker, today, the House will f Allegiance as follows: consider whether to disapprove the rec- I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the ommendations of the independent De- DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO United States of America, and to the Repub- fense Base Closure and Realignment TEMPORE lic for which it stands, one nation under God, Commission to close 28 military indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- installations and realign the mission at fore the House the following commu- f another 77 bases. I rise in opposition to nication from the Speaker: DISAPPROVING THE REC- House Joint Resolution 102, which WASHINGTON, DC, OMMENDATIONS OF THE DE- would disapprove the Commission’s September 8, 1995. FENSE BASE CLOSURE AND RE- recommendations, and I urge my col- I hereby designate the Honorable JIM ALIGNMENT COMMISSION leagues to oppose it as well. KOLBE to act as Speaker pro tempore on this We are currently in the fourth round day. Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant of base closures since 1989, and the NEWT GINGRICH, to section 2908 of Public Law 101–510 Speaker of the House of Representatives. and by direction of the Committee on third and final round under the Com- mission’s present charter. We all recog- f National Security, I call up the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 102) disapproving nize that base closures are a reality in PRAYER the recommendations of the Defense the post-cold-war world, particularly in The Chaplain, Rev. James David Base Closure and Realignment Com- view of the reductions in force struc- Ford, D.D., offered the following pray- mission, and ask unanimous consent ture that have taken place over the er: for its immediate consideration in the past 6 years. O gracious God, from whom we have House. The Department of Defense is count- received our very lives and in whom is The Clerk read the title of the joint ing on the savings resulting from base our hope and confidence, we express resolution. closure and realignment to fund cur- our thanksgiving for this new day and The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there rently underfunded modernization and the opportunities that are before us. objection to the request of the gen- infrastructure improvements late this We place before You our needs, those tleman from South Carolina? decade and into the next century. Ac- attitudes and feelings and hopes that There was no objection. cording to the Commission, implemen- are dear to us, asking that You would The text of House Joint Resolution tation of their recommendations would bless us so we choose the better way, 102 is as follows: result in one-time costs of approxi- confirm us in all truth, and forgive us H.J. RES. 102 mately $3.6 billion. However, the Com- in the depths of our hearts. May what Resolved by the Senate and House of Rep- mission expects $1.6 billion in annual we say and do and think this day be to resentatives of the United States of America in savings and net present value savings Congress assembled, That Congress dis- of $19.3 billion over the next 20 years to Your glory and honor. In Your name, approves the recommendations of the De- we pray. Amen. fense Base Closure and Realignment Com- result from the 1995 base closure rec- f mission as submitted by the President on ommendations. July 13, 1995. Personally, I am concerned about on- THE JOURNAL The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- going force structure reductions as The SPEAKER pro tempore. The ant to section 2908 of the Defense Base well