CONGRESS MEMBERS URGE CLINTON TO FUND MORE B-2 BOMBERS.Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer Eight members of Congress asked President Clinton to include $350 million in the 1998 defense budget to keep the B-2 stealth bomber production line open, arguing that the nation needs a minimum of 30 bombers. In a letter dated Jan. 17, they said the Defense Department has not adequately studied the issue of how many B-2s are needed. The letter urged the president to include $350 million in his proposed 1998 fiscal year budget proposal and allow Congress to debate the issue. ``We believe that a force of at least 30 B-2s (three squadrons) is required to ensure that the U.S. will possess a modern long-range conventional bomber force - one able to respond effectively to aggression anywhere in the world from U.S. bases,'' the letter says. The letter is signed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein Dianne Goldman Berman Feinstein (born June 22, 1933) is the senior U.S. Senator from California, having held office as a senator since 1992. She is a member of the Democratic Party. , D-Calif.; Sen. Daniel Inouye Daniel Ken Inouye (born September 7 1924) is a recipient of the Medal of Honor and currently serves as the senior United States Senator from Hawaii. He has been a senator for over forty years, since 1963, a distinction that few senators have achieved, and is currently the third , D-Hawaii; Rep. Vic Fazio, D-Woodland; Rep. Martin Frost Jonas Martin Frost III (born January 1, 1942) is an American politician, who was the Democratic representative to the U.S. House of Representatives for Texas's 24th congressional district from 1979 to 2005. He was married to U.S. , D-Texas; Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Washington; Rep. Ike Skelton Isaac Newton "Ike" Skelton IV (born December 20 1931) has been a member of the United States House of Representatives since 1977. A Democrat, he represents Missouri's At-large congressional district. , R-Missouri; Rep. Jane Harman
Jane Lakes Harman (born June 28 1945), is a seven-term Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 36th District of California (map). , D-Los Angeles; and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson Eddie Bernice Johnson (born December 3, 1935) is a politician from the state of Texas, currently representing the state's 30th congressional district (map) in the U.S. House. Early life and education Johnson was born in Waco, Texas. , D-Texas. The Clinton administration Noun 1. Clinton administration - the executive under President Clinton executive - persons who administer the law has not responded to the letter. However, in February, Clinton issued a statement saying producing more B-2s would be too costly and would take away funding from other defense programs. Northrop Grumman, the prime contractor of the B-2, estimates it can build an additional 20 B-2s for about $13 billion. The last push for additional B-2 funding resulted in Congress approving $493 million, which the Clinton administration directed be spent modifying a test aircraft into an operational bomber. That congressional effort was led by Rep. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, whose district includes the B-2 assembly site at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale. The B-2's supporters are still formulating their strategy for the next push, said McKeon spokesman Armando Azarloza. One concept being examined is to ask for multiyear funding over a five- to six-year time frame with the idea of building an additional five to 10 bombers. |
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