House Concurrent Resolution 58

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ASKING CONGRESS TO GIVE FIRST PRIORITY TO SUPPORTING AND PASSING THE DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL FIRST.

WHEREAS, the security of our nation and people is the first and foremost obligation of our United States federal government; and

WHEREAS, the men and women of our United States Armed Forces now serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, National Guard and Reserves have shown great courage and self-sacrifice and deserve to be equipped with the best weapons and resources to protect our nation; and

WHEREAS, in past years politicians have delayed passing the defense appropriations bill until late in the budget year so that the defense appropriations bill was misused as a dumping ground for pork barrel spending and as a political hostage to pork barrel spending on other appropriations bills; and

WHEREAS, in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, on America, President Bush asked that the Congress of the United States pass the defense appropriations bill before passing other spending bills; and

WHEREAS, Congress acted responsibly in the 2002, 2003 and 2004 budgets when it passed the defense appropriations bill first, thereby protecting the men and women in our Armed Forces from becoming pawns for politicians' spending maneuvers:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That the Mississippi Legislature commends Congress for making our nation's defense its first priority in 2002, 2003 and 2004, and requests that the representatives and senators from our state continue this important tradition by passing and enacting the defense appropriations legislation before all other spending bills in 2005 and in future years.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mississippi's Congressional Delegation and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.