HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Defense Budget

The House gave its final approval of the Clinton Administration’s first military budget, a $261-billion measure for fiscal 1994 that is down about 4% from the comparable 1993 bill. Setting post-Cold War priorities, the bill (HR 2401) reduces active-duty strength to 1.62 million troops toward a goal of 1.4 million by 1999. The bill cuts missile defense spending sharply, to $3 billion, while shifting the emphasis from space-based Star Wars defenses to ground-based interceptor systems that are portable from theater to theater. It caps the B-2 bomber program at 20 aircraft, grants a 2.2% military pay raise effective in January, 1994, and gives the force of law to Pentagon policies against openly gay conduct by service personnel.

Supporter G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery (D-Miss.) said the bill “meets the minimum needs of the military while recognizing the realities of the changing world and the realities of the federal budget.”

Opponent Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) said the lowered defense budget “leaves this nation with a defense plan that seriously undermines our ability to maintain a robust and effective fighting force.”

The vote was 273 for and 135 against. A yes vote was to pass the bill.

How They Voted

Rep. Cox (R): Nay

Rep. Dornan (R): Nay

Rep. Kim (R): Nay

Rep. Packard (R): Nay

Rep. Rohrabacher (R): Nay

Rep. Royce (R): Yea

Abortion Clinic Access

The House adopted an amendment limiting the scope of a bill (HR 796) to combat violence at abortion clinics. The underlying bill, later passed on a non-record vote, makes it a federal crime to block access to clinics or harm their patients or staff. The amendment exempts parents and legal guardians who are using normal measures to keep a minor from having an abortion.

Sponsor Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) said parents should not be penalized by the bill “for raising their children.”

Opponent Jack Brooks (D-Tex.) said that given the difficulty of instantly determining who is a parent or a minor, the amendment would impede police protection of clinics.

The vote was 350 for and 82 against. A yes vote was to adopt the amendment.

How They Voted

Rep. Cox (R): Yea

Rep. Dornan (R): Yea

Rep. Kim (R): Yea

Rep. Packard (R): Yea

Rep. Rohrabacher (R): Yea

Rep. Royce (R): Yea

Where to Reach Them

Christopher Cox, 47th District

4000 MacArthur Blvd., East Tower, Suite 430, Newport Beach 92660 (714) 756-2244

Robert K. Dornan, 46th District

300 Plaza Alicante, Suite 360, Garden Grove 92640 (714) 971-9292

Jay C. Kim, 41st District

1131 W. 6th St., Suite 160-A, Ontario 91762 (909) 988-1055

Ron Packard, 48th District

629 Camino de los Mares, Suite 204, San Clemente 92673 (714) 496-2343

Dana Rohrabacher, 45th District

16162 Beach Blvd., Suite 304, Huntington Beach 92647 (714) 847-2433

Ed Royce, 39th District

305 N. Harbor Blvd., Suite 300, Fullerton 92632 (714) 992-8081

Source: Roll Call Report Syndicate