BILL REQ. #:  S-3691.1 

Read first time 02/02/2004.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OR THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, The security of our nation and people is the first and foremost obligation of the 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 in other appropriations bills; and
     WHEREAS, In the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks 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 Spring of 2002 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, Your Memorialists commend Congress for making our nation's defense its first priority in 2002, and respectfully pray that our elected Senators and Representatives in the United States Congress continue this important tradition by passing and enacting the defense appropriations legislation before all other spending bills in 2004 and in future years.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.