Date: 1984-05-30
Speaker: WON PAT (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I rise to join my colleagues in support of the measure before usH.R. 5167. the defense authorization bill approved by the committee. As a member of the Armed Services Committee I know that this measure represents untold hours of debate and deliberation by the committee. It is the best bill possible and I urge that it be approved. This measure authorizes $208.1 billion for military procurement. research and development. operatIons and maintenance. and civil defense in fiscal year 1985. During our consideration of H.R 5167. let me assure all present that a great deal of thought went into how this measure would impact on our economy. We are aware of the need to make every dollar count. That this measure keeps real spending growth for the Pentagon down to 6 percent rather than the 13 percent requested by the White House Is a tribute to the bipartisan nature of this measure. Credit for this fact must go both to the chairman. Representatives PRICE and the ranking Republican on the committee. Representative BILL DICKENSON. for producing a bill which keeps spending down while meeting the legitimate defense needs of this Nation. There are two special provisions in H.R. 5167 that are of particular concern to my constituents on Guam and I want to make brief comments about these at this time to clarify their Intent. The first provision in title VI addresses the current Pentagon policy of permitting U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan and Okinawa to purchase new cars on Guam and have these vehicles shipped to stateside ports as part of their personal belongings. Earlier this year. Secretary Weinberger stated his support for this program saying it was of direct financial benefit to U.S. service personnel since they are not permitted to bring Americancertified cars to Japan or Okinawa. Some have suggested that this policy is harmful to the U.S. auto industry since the vehicles being purchased are made in Japan. Secretary Weinberger says that this is not true since the service personnel are only exercising their right to buy the car of their choice. I agree and add that this prograin has saved our poorly paid military personnel several thousand dollars. The actual number of cars Involved is very smallabout 2.000 annually. This figure represents less than onetenth of 1 percent of all the Japanese cars sold to Americans last year. Hardly a number that should create concern here. I must also add that this tiny number of cars sold to American military personnel has generated an estimated 500 Jobs in Guam for other Americans. The committee has wisely adopted a proposal I offered which would call on the Pentagon to review this policy and its impact on the milltary and the Island of Guam and report back to Congress by January 15. 1985. At that time Congress will have additional information needed to determine the real impact of this program. I add that several weeks ago. Mr. Brock. the U.S. trade negotiator. called for an end to the voluntary limitation on the number of Japanese cars brought into this Nation. He stated. and many have agreed. that the artificial limitation has cost American consumers hundreds of millioiins dollars. A great deal of misinformation has been generated about this policy and I urge my colleagues to support my provision so the real facts can be presented to Congress in an orderly fashion without throwing Americans on Guam out of work or taking needed dollars out of the pockets of those who serve us abroad. The second provision. which I proposed. also in title VI provides authorization for the Pentagon to pay for the transportation of U.S. territorial residents stationed in CONUS to their island homes while on emergency leave. This would place them on an equal status with other American milltary personnel who enjoy this benefit when they return from overseas posts to their mainland homes while on emergency leave. My good friend. Congressman Lzs AsPIN. chairman of the Personnel Subcommittee is directly responsible for inserting this provision in the bill at my request and I am deeply grateful for his steadfast support and concern for our people in uniform. Thank you.e