ARLINGTON, VA – John Kerry’s stop at the Navy port in Norfolk, Virginia highlights his continuing attempts to makeover a long record of being on the wrong side of the issues most important to Americans – especially the crucial issue of keeping our nation secure.
John Kerry Is Weak On National Security
Kerry Voted Against Funding For Virginia Class Submarine, Built To Meet Post-Cold War Threats, At Least Seven Times. (S. 1087, CQ Vote #397: Passed 62-35: R 48-4; D 14-31, 9/5/95, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 1530, CQ Vote #399: Passed 64-34: R 50-3; D 14-31, 9/6/95, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 2126, CQ Vote #579: Adopted 59-39: R 48-5; D 11-34, 11/16/95, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 1530, CQ Vote #608: Adopted 51-43: R 47-2; D 4-41, 12/19/95, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 1124, CQ Vote #5: Adopted 56-34: R 42-3; D 14-31, 1/26/96, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 1745, CQ Vote #187: Passed 68-31: R 50-2; D 18-29, 7/10/96, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 3230, CQ Vote #279: Adopted 73-26: R 50-3; D 23-23, 9/10/96, Kerry Voted Nay)
Some Of Ten Planned Virginia Class Submarines Will Be Built In Newport News, VA. "Under the terms of a $4.2 billion contract awarded by the Navy in 1998, and a follow-on $8.4 billion multiyear contract awarded in January 2004, Electric Boat is sharing construction of the first 10 ships of the class with its teammate, Northrop Grumman Newport News. When Electric Boat delivers the lead ship Virginia (SSN774) later this year, it will embody an ongoing and uncompromising effort to balance military capability with affordability." (General Dynamics Electric Boat Website, "Virginia Class," Accessed 7/24/04)
In 1993, Kerry Introduced Plan To Cut Numerous Defense Programs, Including:
- Cut the number of Navy submarines and their crews
- Reduce the number of light infantry units in the Army down to one
- Reduce tactical fighter wings in the Air Force
- Terminate the Navy’s coastal mine-hunting ship program
- Force the retirement of no less than 60,000 members of the Armed Forces in one year. (S.1163, Introduced 6/24/93)
In 1996, Kerry Introduced Bill To Slash Defense Department Funding By $6.5 Billion. Kerry’s bill had no co-sponsors and never came to a floor vote. (S. 1580, Introduced 2/29/96)
In 1995, Kerry Voted To Freeze Defense Spending For 7 Years, Slashing Over $34 Billion From Defense. (S. Con. Res. 13, CQ Vote #181: Rejected 28-71: R 2-51; D 26-20, 5/24/95, Kerry Voted Yea)
