As the House and Senate begin the conference to reconcile differences in their versions of the fiscal 1999 defense authorization bill, they are faced with a strong protest from Defense Secretary William Cohen over nearly two dozen changes in the bills, and a veto threat over several issues.
Most of Cohen's major concerns are with the House version of the authorization, particularly the ban on satellite transfers to China, restrictions on the Energy Department's nuclear weapons programs and the changes in gender-integrated recruit training by the Army, Navy and Air Force.
But Cohen also raised a veto threat over a Senate provision that would restrict the military's ability to make changes in its bases short of the formal base reduction and closure process.
"If the conference accepts these provisions, I would recommend that the President veto the fiscal 1999 defense authorization bill," Cohen said in what has been dubbed the "heartburn" letter to the chairmen of the Senate Armed Services and the House National Security committees.
Cohen also said his "highest priority" is approval of the $1.86 billion additional funding for the Bosnia peacekeeping mission as an emergency supplemental, which would not be counted in the administration's $270.9 billion request.
The Defense Secretary said an amendment by Sens. James Inhofe, R-Okla., and Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., that would bar any change in a base affecting more than 225 civilian workers "would gut his already limited" ability to make the most cost-effective use of defense resources.
The House amendment to force an end to coed recruit training units and to require completely separate housing for men and women "would overrule the collective judgment of the military leadership" and cost millions of dollars needed elsewhere, Cohen said.
Cohen also warned that conference approval of a number of amendments offered by members of the House Depot Caucus that would restrict privatization and out-sourcing of maintenance and support services "would jeopardize my support" for the bill.
Weapons funding changes cited as concerns included cuts in the Navy's F/A-18 buy from 30 to 27, in badly needed improvements to the Marines' aging CH-47 helicopters, and in research and development funds for the Air Force's F-22, Airborne Laser anti- missile program, the Army's Crusader artillery system and MEADS mobile anti-missile program.
Cohen suggested that money for those desired programs could come from eliminating the eight C-130J turbo-prop transports the House added and $300 million in unrequested equipment for the National Guard and reserves. The C-130s are made in Speaker Gingrich's suburban Atlanta district.
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