Gibbons says spending bill critical to Nevada military bases

Thursday, Sept. 16, 1999 | 10:55 a.m.

"We are at critical personnel and readiness levels. We are bleeding our defense capabilities dry," said Gibbons, R-Nev., who served in the Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars.

"The number, scope and duration of military missions, especially peacekeeping and humanitarian missions, continue to grow while military forces and defense budgets continue to decline," the former Air Force pilot said Wednesday.

The legislation approved on a 375-45 vote would provide $8.3 billion more for the military in fiscal 2000 than was sought by President Clinton - an $18 billion increase over this year.

It includes a widely popular 4.8 percent military pay raise and more money for military barracks and family housing. It increases spending for readiness, maintenance and military hardware, from $176 million for 17 new Black Hawk helicopters to $3.7 billion for a ballistic missile defense system.

Gibbons said the increase is necessary before Congress or the Clinton administration "even so much as debates yet another deployment of our armed forces.

"I have serious concerns about the risks posed to the men and women at Nellis Air Force Base, Fallon Naval Air Station and Hawthorne Army Depot with continued force downsizing and budget reductions," Gibbons said.

"With this vital funding, the United States will help ensure its military capabilities are met and that our men and women in the armed forces are ready to face any challenge or any threat to our national security," he said.