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Congressmen release

US mly's weapon

wish lists

WASHINGTON: Congressional leaders who want to add about $12 billion to President Clinton's defense budget on Monday released the military's "wish lists" for weapons much of the extra money would buy.

The wish lists include an additional Navy nuclear submarine, another amphibious landing ship, more Air Force and Navy warplanes, and speedup of production of the Marine Corps' new V-22 tilt-rotor combat troop-carrying plane.

The wish lists were released by Reps. Floyd Spence of South Carolina, chairman of the House National Security Committee, and Bill Young of Florida, chairman of the House National Security Appropriations subcommittee.

They said they would not rubber-stamp the request but made clear by releasing the lists that most of the requests are likely to be included in Congress's defense bills.

"The administration's fiscal year 1997 request devotes less than $40 billion to procurement spending - less than at any time since before the Korean War," they said in a joint statement. "Accordingly, a significant percentage of additional defense resources this year will be used to modernize needed systems sooner and more efficiently."

Defense committees in both the Senate and House have recommended to budget committee that about $267 billion be allotted for defense next year. Clinton asked for some $254 billion.-Reuter