Date: 1981-12-04
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

I thank the Senator. Mr. President. the first amendment I shall send to the desk proposes to add $200 million to the amount already In the bill for accelerating the advanced technology bomber. or "Stealth" bomber program. It does not transfer any money from the Bi program. It is an addon and is Intended as on addon. and no Senator should interpret it as related to the Bi. I am not taking funds away from the Bi. The Senate has already endorsed the administrations decision on the B1. I will not take the time of the Senate to repeat all the arguments that were made just a few days ago on my amendment which would have added $250 million. If the Senate had added $250 million. the figure would have been commensurate with the figure the House has In the bill. and there would have been no conference item to resolve. But as It is. the figure Is $250 million In the House portion of the bill and zero. so far as the base I am talking about. in the Senate bill: so that in conference. the .December 4. 198 1 figure could come out $250 million or it could come out zero. insofar as the base Is concerned from which I am operating. or it could come out somewhere In between. If the amendment I now offer is adopted. then the conference item will be that of resolving the difference between the $200 and $250 million. So here are the main points: First. this Is the topoftheline technology which promises to give America new leverage with the Soviet Union in the strategic area. We must nurture It on an accelerated track. The administration has sa!d it intends to do so. But. as I have already indicated. the funding level in the bill is some $250 million below that in the House bill. Second. we must Insure that. if we go with the B1. funding for Stealth is not sacrificed and that the program is not unduly stretched out because of the funding for the B1 program. Surely. all Senators can agree to that proposition. It is essential to bring the program on line. so that an initial operating capability =IC) be available in the early 1990s. I believe that if we keep the program on the fast track. it Is within the ingenuity of our scientists and engineers to deliver an operational squadron around 1990. There has been a welter of confusing information on when the B52H will no longer be able to penetrate Soviet airspace with assurance. There has been a shifting series of statements by the Secretary of Defense and other officials on when the Bi. if we build it. will lose that penetration ability. But there has been really no controversy that the "Stealth" will present very great difficulties for the Soviets throughout the 1990s and into the next century. So. if we want to assure the success of that vital strategic mission. we dare not crimp this program. Testimony by both the recently retired Strategic Air Commander. General Ellis. as well as the present Commander. General Davis. before the Senate has provided us with substantial evidence that the Stealth program will be delayed. Indeed. the very amount appropriated in this bill is such evidence. The amount I am proposing we add in this amendment Itself Is somewhat lower than I have been advised could be added and still not reach a maximum program. The important principle we adopt when we vote for this additional money is that the Senate joins the House in refusing to underfund what Is perhaps the single most important new strategic. highly classified program now under development. This Is a commitment to American technological superiority. and to maintaining our technological edge. I urge the adoption of the amendment.