Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, the Air Force plans to acquire 1,000 next-generation air-launched cruise missiles, otherwise known as the long-range standoff weapon. This is double the size of the existing nuclear-armed cruise missile arsenal. However, many experts have already told us there is no need for nuclear-armed cruise missiles.

We already have the most advanced bomber ever created in our arsenal, the B-2 Stealth bomber, and the Air Force will be acquiring new B-21 Stealth bombers. These bombers are capable of penetrating enemy airspace and dropping a nuclear bomb directly above a target, making nuclear-armed cruise missiles redundant.

If we decide we want to shoot nuclear missiles from thousands of miles away, we still have very expensive submarines and very expensive ICBMs capable of doing just that. Instead of investing more dollars into our outdated and oversized nuclear arsenal, we must make smart investments on other priorities that actually keep us safe, or on reducing our unsustainable debt and deficits. Yet, last year's budget doubled down and accelerated production of the missile by 2 years to 2025. The accelerated procurement schedule will cost taxpayers an additional $75.8 million more in 2017 than originally planned in the fiscal year 2015 acquisition schedule, but that makes little sense when there is so much uncertainty about whether this missile is affordable or even necessary.

That is why my amendment will put $75.8 million towards deficit reduction by placing funding for the long-range standoff weapon back on its 2015 acquisition schedule. There is no need to rush development when as little as 2 years ago the Air Force had requested a delay in procurement to pay for higher priorities before changing its mind a year later.

On top of that, the existing air-launched cruise missile and warhead isn't being phased out until the 2030s.

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Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis).

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Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Chairman, might I inquire how much time I have left?

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Mr. QUIGLEY. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky), the ranking member.

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Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Chairman, in the brief time I have, this doesn't gut the program. It brings it back to its 2015 acquisition schedule.

Folks, we have to prioritize. We can't have three redundancies when we have cut homeland security money by 50 percent in the last 5 years. After Orlando, we should learn to reprioritize what really keeps Americans safe. I encourage a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

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