PRINTER'S NO. 1632
No. 156 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY BEBKO-JONES, C. WILLIAMS, ITKIN, GEIST, JOSEPHS,
HALUSKA, CURRY, MELIO, YOUNGBLOOD, BELARDI, LAUGHLIN, PESCI,
TRELLO, RAMOS, SHANER, GIGLIOTTI, STEELMAN AND
A. H. WILLIAMS, APRIL 30, 1997
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS,
APRIL 30, 1997
A RESOLUTION
1 Memorializing Congress to redirect funds from defense
2 appropriations to the several states to meet increased
3 domestic needs.
4 WHEREAS, Although it is believed that the United States
5 should retain its position as the strongest military nation in
6 the world, it is submitted that the security of our nation is
7 dependent fundamentally not on military might, but on the well-
8 being and vitality of our citizens; and
9 WHEREAS, Programs which sustain and improve health,
10 education, affordable housing, environmental protection and
11 safety for our citizens are being transferred from the Federal
12 Government to the state governments; and
13 WHEREAS, Funds being provided by the Federal Government to
14 the states are insufficient to fulfill these responsibilities;
15 and
16 WHEREAS, The seven countries currently identified as our
17 potential adversaries have a combined military budget of $15
1 billion, while the United States' military budget for 1997 is
2 $265 billion; and
3 WHEREAS, Our nation's military budget remains at cold war
4 levels and includes $11.4 billion not requested by the Pentagon,
5 $25 billion for 10,000 nuclear weapons and their delivery
6 systems and $40 billion in excess of the amount many former
7 military leaders and leading business executives consider
8 sufficient; and
9 WHEREAS, Current Pentagon spending outweighs all military
10 threats and creates fewer jobs than increased spending on
11 domestic programs would deliver; and
12 WHEREAS, Shifting funds from the military to repairing our
13 infrastructure would dramatically improve the well-being of the
14 nation's citizens and strengthen our country's ability to
15 compete successfully in the world market; therefore be it
16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
17 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memoralize the Congress of the
18 United States to redirect sufficient funds from the military
19 budget to the several states so that they can meet the critical
20 needs of rebuilding communities and inner cities, repairing
21 schools, educating children, eliminating hunger, providing
22 housing, improving transportation, protecting environment and
23 obtaining a decent level of health care and safety for all of
24 their citizens, thereby increasing fundamentally our nation's
25 security and well-being; and be it further
26 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
27 the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
28 member of Congress from Pennsylvania; and be it further
29 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be distributed to
30 legislative leaders of all 50 states.
B25L82WMB/19970H0156R1632 - 2 -