IN TERMS OF OUR OBLIGATIONS AND BEING STRETCHED AND STESED AND
           HOLLOW IN REGARDS TO THE MILITARY IT SEEMS TO MEN WE OUGHT TO
           BE CAREFUL WHEN TALKING ABOUT OPERATIONAL SUPPORT AIRLIFT
           AIRCRAFT. LET ME GIVE YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE. I HAVE A
           CONGRESSIONAL FELLOW IN MY OFFICE. HE IS AND F-15 PILOT. NOW
           KNOW OF ONE CASE WHERE HIS AIRCRAFT IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION
           SOUTHERN WATCH, THAT'S TO PREVENT DRUGS FROM COMING INTO THIS

           COUNTRY, HAD TO DIVERT DUE TO MAMA SIF FUEL LEAK, AGAIN IN
           REGARDS TO THIS OPERATIONAL SUPPORT AIRCRAFT OR AIRLIFT,
           BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED IT WAS DISPATCHED WITH MAINTENANCE
           CREWS AND THE VERY CRITICAL PARTS TO FIX THE AIRCRAFT VERY
           QUICKLY AND RETURN IT TO MISSION READY STATUS. AND THAT'S WHAT
           THESE AIRCRAFT ARE USED FOR. AS A MATTER OF FACT, YOU HAVE HERE
           A STATEMENT THAT ONLY 5% OF THESE AIRCRAFT IN TERMS OF MISSIONS
           WERE EVER USED BY GENERALS. HERE IT IS MR. PRESIDENT, IN FISCAL

           YEAR 199, LESS THAN 5% OF OPERATIONAL SUPPORT IF WERE GENERALS
           OR ADMIRALS. WHAT DOES THE 95% DO?
           WELL, THE OPERATIONAL SUPPORT AIRLIFT MISSION DOES PROVIDE, AS
           DETERMINED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY THE SECRETARY OF THE
           ARMY AND THE COMMANDANT, EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE TRANSPORTATION
           OF COMMANDERS, KEY STAFF PERSONNEL, AND KUR YEARS AND CRITICAL
           SPARE PARTS AND EQUIPMENT IN SUPPORT OF BOTH PEACETIME AND
           WARTIME OPERATIONS. THESE MISSIONS, ACCORDING TO THE PEOPLE WHO

           FLEW THEM, ARE TYPICALLY UNPREDICTABLE, HIGH PRIORITY. THEY
           REQUIRE VERY SHORT NOTICE. IN REGARDS TO THE AIRLIFT TO PEOPLE
           AND CARGO AND MAIL. THOSE LIST ARE NORMALLY IN SUPPORT OF
           CONTINGENCY DEPLOYMENTS AND LORD KNOWS WE HAVE THOSE TODAY IN
           141 NATIONS NOT COME PAT BELL WITH COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION OR
           THE LARGER AIRCRAFT. AND THE CRITICAL DELAYS IN THE
           TRANSPORTATION OF SENIOR LEADERS KEY STAFF PERSONNEL AND
           URGENTLY NEEDED PARTS, SPLICE AND SOFTWARE COULD ULTIMATELY
           IMPACT UNIT EFFECTIVENESS AND THE COMBAT READYNESS. I WANT TO

           SAY IN CLOSING THAT MY DISTINGUISHED FRIEND FROM PIE WITH A
           REFERRED TO A SO-CALLED, I KNOW HE WASN'T BEING SPECIFIC IN
           REGARDS TO THE MARINE CORPS, BUT A GENERAL SMITH IN THE MARINE
           CORPS WHO WOULD LOOK AROUND TO OTHER GENERALS WHO MIGHT HAVE A
           GULFSTREAM OR 727 OR LEER JET OR WHATEVER AND SAY GEE WHIZ, I
           WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT PERK. I WANT TO SET THE RECORD
           STRAIGHT. I ASKED THE MARINE CORPS. I ASKED THE COMMANDANT.
           WHAT ABOUT THIS STATEMENT, MR. COMMANDANT?
           I AM TALKING ABOUT GENERAL JIM JONES. THE MEANT COMMON AND THIS

           IS THE STATEMENT THAT WORRIED MEN BECAUSE IT IS SIMILAR TO
           STATEMENTS MADE ON THE NEARBY PRO POE NEPS OF THIS REALITY. THE
           PENTAGON HAS ENOUGH AIRCRAFT TO TAXI GENERALS AN AD MIRLS
           AROUND THE WORLD. IN FACT THEY HAVE MORE THAN 300 EXECUTIVE
           AIRCRAFT INCLUDING MORE THAN 100 JETS SUITABLE TO TRANSPORT THE
           HIGH RANKSING OFFICERS. I ASKED THE COMMANDANT, WILL YOU PLEASE
           COMMENT ABOUT THIS STATEMENT?
           THIS IS HIS RESPONSE. THE THREE UC-5'S ARE NOR ACTIVE MARINE
           CORPS FORCES NOT THE NAVY. THE MARINE CORPS DOES NOT -- DOES

           NOT -- DOES NOT -- PROVIDE EXECUTIVE AIRLIFT. LET ME REPEAT
           THAT. THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS ACCORDING TO THE
           COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS, DOES NOT PROVIDE EXECUTIVE
           AIRLIFT. THE MARINE CORPS HAS A SMALL FLEET FLEET OF 24 OF
           OPERATIONAL SUPPORT AIRLIFT, AIRCRAFT THAT ARE TIED DIRECTLY TO
           A JOINT STAFF VALVE DATED WARTIME REQUIREMENT. THESE AIRCRAFT
           SUPPORT OUR MARINE FORCES DEPLOYED AROUND THE WORLD. THE NEED
           TO REPLACE AND THIS IS WHAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE WAS

           TRYING TO POINT OUT AGENT BEING OBSOLETE CT-39-G AIRCRAFT HAS
           BEEN ACCELERATED BY TWO OF THE MARINE CORPS'S REMAINING CT-39'S
           TO THE NAVY. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE OBSOLETE AIRCRAFT. THAT'S
           NOTHING KNEW FOR THE MARINE CORPS. AT LEAST WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
           THE INCREASED PERFORMANCE AND SHORT FIELD CAPABILITY, AND MR.
           PRESIDENT, I CONTINUE WITH THE ANSWER IN REGARD TO THAT
           STATEMENT, THAT HAS BEEN STATED BITCH THE COMMANDANT, THE
           INCREASED PERFORMANCE IN SHORT FIELD UTILITY THE PLANE WILL

           ENSURE SUPPORT TO FORWARD DEPLOYED MA PREEN CORE NORSES AND
           REMAINS WELL VIABLE INTO THE 2ST CENTURY. LET ME POINT OUT THE
           MARINE CORPS PLACED THREE UC-30'S AND AGAIN I AM QUOTING FROM
           THE COMMANDANT "ON THE COMMANDANT FISCAL YEAR 00 UNFUNDED
           PRIORITY LIST IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE DELIVERY TO THE WEST COAST
           AND OKINAWA TO SUPPORT THE MARINE NORSES. THESE MISSIONS ARE
           TYPICALLY UNPREPARTICULAR TABLE. THEY ARE HIGH PRIORITY. THEY

           REQUIRE SHORT NOTICE AIRLIFT OF PEOPLE CARGO AND MAIL. THESE
           LIFTS ARE NORMALLY IN SUPPORT OF CON CONTINUE GENERAL SIP
           DEPLATES. NOT COME PAT BELL WITH COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION AND
           COMMON USER AIR LIFE OR OTHER ORGANIC AIRLIFT. THAT IS A LONG
           WAYS FROM BEING MOLLY CODDLED OR THINKING YOU MUST HAVE A PERK
           AIRCRAFT BECAUSE SOME OTHER ADMIRAL OR GENTLEMEN MIGHT HAVE A
           PERK AIRCRAFT. I GRIEF WITH THE SENATOR FROM IOWA AND

           CALIFORNIA THAT WE MUST MAKE SURE THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AS
           KATED BY THEIR RESPONSE, ADHERES TO THE G.A. OR REPORT. WITHOUT
           QUESTION. NOBODY WANTS TO SOAK THE TAXPAYERS FOR ANY KIND OF
           GENERAL SPECIAL FLEET. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS DOES. THIS
           AMENDMENT WOULD STRIKE NINE, AGAIN NINE, UNFUNDED PRIORITY
           REQUESTS BY THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY. THE SECRETARY OF THE
           NAVY AND THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS. I WILL PUT
           THAT.COM AT THE END OF MY REMARKS AND WOULD HOPE PEOPLE PAPER
           ATTENTION TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND I

           WOULD HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES WOULD POSE THE AMENDMENT.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE TIME EXPIRED.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM HAWAII IS RECOGNIZED
           NOR TEN MINUTES.
           

           MR. INOUYE: MR. PRESIDENT, I AM NOT A PILOT, HOWEVER I BELIEVE
           THAT IN THIS BODY I SPEND MORE TIME ON AIRCRAFT THAN OTHER
           MEMBERS. MY HOME IS IN HAWAII. WHENEVER I LEAVE THE CITY OF
           WASHINGTON TO RETURN HOME, I MUST PREPARE MYSELF FOR 11 HOURS
           AND 15 MINUTES OF FLIGHT TIME. IN THAT SENSE I BELIEVE I AM AN

           EXPERIENCED PERSON WHEN IT COMES TO FLYING. HOWEVER, IN MY
           CASE, BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE SCHEDULE IN THE UNITED
           STATES SENATE, WE CANNOT MAKE RESERVATIONS THREE, FOUR MONTHS
           AHEAD OF TIME. I HAVE HAD A RESERVATION FOR THIS FRIDAY, BUT I
           JUST CANCELLED THAT BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE HANDLING
           APPROPRIATIONS MEASURES. AS A RESULT, IF SOMETHING SHOULD COME
           ABOUT MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO FLY BACK TO HAWAII THIS
           FRIDAY, WHO KNOWS?

           I MAY BE ABLE TO GET A FLIGHT. LEAVING AT SOME STRANGE HOUR.
           ECONOMY CLASS, WHICH I DON'T MIND. BUT AT THE END OF THE TRIP I
           USUALLY CAN GET HOME TO MY APARTMENT AND SPEND AN EVENING OF
           REST. BUT THE MEN WHO FLY THESE PLANES HAVE SPECIAL
           RESPONSIBILITIES. WHEN THEY GET ON A NIGHT TO GO TO RUSSIA,
           THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ESCORT TODAY A FANCY HOTEL AS SOON AS

           THEY LAND. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO GO TO A MEETING AT THAT POINT.
           THE LEAST WE CAN PROVIDE OUR COMMANDERS IS SOME REST AND SOME
           COMFORT BEFORE THEY GET INTO SOME BIG BUSINESS. SECONDLY, THESE
           ARE NOT JUST ANY OLD AIRCRAFT. IT HAS TO BE SPECIALLY EQUIPPED.
           IN WARTIME AND IN PEACETIME THESE PLANES ARE THEIR

           HEADQUARTERS. THEY MAKE COMMAND DECISIONS ON THESE FLIGHTS.
           THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN CONTACT WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN UNDER
           THEIR COMMAND AT ALL TIMES. WE ARE FORTUNATE, IN A SENSE WE ARE
           8 TO 8 EMPLOYEES. WE GET TO WORK ABOUT O'CLOCK, AND WE LEAVE
           WORK ABOUT 8 O'CLOCK. A MILITARY COMMANDER IS LIKE A POLICE

           OFFICER. HE IS ON DUTY 24 HOURS A DAY. THESE AIRCRAFT MUST BE
           EQUIPED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR HIS RESPONSIBILITY OF
           24 HOUR A DAY RESPONSIBILITY. SECONDLY, YES, WE DO HAVE 71 LEER
           JETS IN THE INIS VEIN TORE AT THIS TIME. THAT'S A LARGE FLEET.
           71 LEER JETS. THESE LITTLE -- LEAR JETS. THESE LITTLE THINGS.
           BUT THEY ARE GETTING PRETTY OLD. AND INADEQUATE FOR THE

           ASSIGNMENTS. SO WITHIN FIVE YEARS  ABOUT 45 ARE GOING TO BE
           RETIRED. AND WITHIN TEN YEARS, YOU WILL FIND THAT ALL OF THESE
           JET WOULD BE GONE. SECONDLY, WE HAVE 70'S. I DON'T KNOW HOW
           MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN FLYING ON -- 707'S. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY
           OF YOU HAVE BEEN FLYING ON 77'S. THEY ARE CONSIDERED OLD. 35
           YEARS OLD. WEAPON WILL HAVE TO, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT,
           RETIRE THESE AIRCRAFT. WE HAVE C-22'S. THE 727. THEY ARE 25

           YEARS OLD. THEY CAN'T LAST FOR OF. THEY ARE GOING TO BE RETIRED
           PRETTY SOON. THIRD CONSIDERATION, THIS PROVISION IN OUR BILL
           DOES NOT SPECIFY THE NAME OF THE AIRCRAFT. AND WE DO THIS
           DELIBERATELY, MR. PRESIDENT. BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO FAVOR ONE
           COMPANY OVER ANOTHER. IF WE PUT IN THE GI THEN WE ARE FAVORING

           ONE COMPANY, THE GREW MANS. IF WE PUT IN SOMETHING ELSE --
           GRUMMANS. IF WE PUT IN SOMETHING ELSE, WE ARE FAVORING ANOTHER
           COMPANY. WE WANT THIS TO GO INTO A COMPETITIVE SYSTEM, AND I
           THINK WE HAVE FULFILLED THAT REQUIREMENT  BY THIS AMENDMENT.
           BUT JOE ALL, MR. PRESIDENT, THERE IS ANOTHER CONSIDERATION. WE
           HAVE BEEN SPEAKING OF ADMIRALS AND GENERALS. MUCH OF THE TIME
           YOU WILL FIND THAT THESE AIRCRAFT ARE BEING USED BY OUR CIVIL

           YAP LEADERS. CABINET -- CIVILIAN LEADERS. CABINET PEOPLE. JUST
           TWO DAYS AGO THE SECRETARY OF STATE WENT TO SYRIA TO DAMASCUS
           TO ATTEND THE FUNERAL OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT ASSAD.
           SHE DID NOT GO ON PAN-AMERICAN OR TWA. SHE WENT ON A MILITARY
           AIRCRAFT. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU AMERICANS WOULD WANT OUR

           SECRETARY OF STATE TO TRAVEL IN AN AIRCRAFT WORTHY OF HER
           POSITION. SURE, WE CAN EASILY SAY UNITED AIRLINES IS GOOD
           ENOUGH FOR ME WHY ISN'T IT GOOD ENOUGH FOR GENERAL SO AND SO.
           WELL, IF HE IS GOING HOME FOR VACATION, HE SHOULD TAKE UNITED
           AIRLINES OR DELTA OR WHATEVER AIR LINES HE WANTS TO TALK. BUT
           THESE AIRCRAFT ARE BEING USED NOT FOR PERSONAL PURPOSES, MR.
           PRESIDENT. IT'S BEEN USED FOR MILITARY PURPOSE. AND I HOPE THAT

           WE WILL UNDERSTAND THIS. AND I HOPE THAT WHEN THE VOTE IS
           CALLED WE WILL VOTE AGAINST THIS. I WOULD SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUES
           FROM IOWA AND CALIFORNIA IF I HAD ANY TIME -- IF I AT ANY TIME
           FELT THAT THESE AIRCRAFT WERE PERKS. MR. PRESIDENT, THEY ARE
           NOT PERKS. ANY PERSON WHO IS WILLING TO COMMAND TROOPS AND
           STAND IN HARM'S WAY IN MY BEHALF AND IN BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF

           THE UNITED STATES I SAY A GV IS GOOD FOR THEM. IF WE -- G-V IS
           GOOD FOR THEM. IF WE GET SOMETHING BETTER THAN THAT, SO BE IT.
           NOTHING IS TOO GOOD FOR THEM. SO MR. PRESIDENT, I HOPE THAT MY
           COLLEAGUES WILL SUPPORT THE LEADERSHIP AND MANAGERS OF THIS
           MEASURE AND VOTE AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT. THANK YOU, SIR.
           

           MR. STEVENS: HOW MUCH TIME REMAINS, MR. PRESIDENT?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM ALASKA HAS 33 MINUTES
           -- 23 MINUTES. THE SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA HAS FOUR MINUTES.
           

           MR. STEVENS: I DIDN'T HEAR. HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE LEFT?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: 23 MINUTES.
           

           MR. STEVENS: AND THE SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: FOUR MINUTES.
           

           MR. STEVENS: I YIELD TO THE SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA TWO MINUTES
           AND I APOLOGIZE. SHE DID RECOGNIZE ME FOR A FOUR-LINE COMMENT.
           MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD MYSELF JUST WHAT TIME I USE TO MAKE THIS
           STATEMENT. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RAISED HERE ABOUT LARGE AIRCRAFT.
           THAT'S A DIFFERENT ISSUE. WE HAVE GONE BACK AND CHECKED WHAT
           THIS ISSUE IS. THIS IS SUPPORT AIRCRAFT. THE AIR FORCE TOLD US
           TODAY THEY WILL HAVE TO ADD $900 MILLION TO THE BUDGET TO

           MAINTAIN AND UPGRADE THE EXISTING SUPPORT AIRCRAFT FOR THE NEXT
           TEN YEARS.
{END: 2000/06/13 TIME: 18-00 , Tue.  106TH SENATE, SECOND SESSION}