1997 National Security Congressional Scorecard

(Washington, D.C.): The Center for Security Policy (CSP) today released its fourth annual National Security Scorecard — a valuable instrument for evaluating the voting records of all members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives on key defense and foreign policy issues during the 1^st session of the 105^th Congress.

The Scorecard evaluates a total of 34 important votes by the two chambers (20 in the House and 14 in the Senate) and gives each legislator a CSP National Security rating for 1997. Highlights include: the 32 Members who demonstrated the greatest commitment to the security of our Nation by achieving a perfect score of 100 percent (24 in the House and 8 in the Senate); the eight freshmen legislators who achieved this distinction in their first term; and the four Members who have scored 100 on this and every previous CSP National Security Scorecard — Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Representatives Gerald Solomon (R-NY) and Ron Lewis (R-KY).

National Security Measures: Reviewing the Choices

The thirty-four key votes tracked for this CSP National Security Scorecard span the spectrum of security policy issues. Among these are votes intended to: cut critical defense spending (including funds earmarked for the Trident D-5 submarine-launched ballistic missile, the B-2 Stealth bomber and space-based laser programs); discourage Russia from selling to China lethal anti-ship missiles designed to attack U.S. naval vessels; sanction China for exporting missiles to Iran; promote the use of “freedom radio” in Asia, an instrument that has done much to encourage democracy and promote U.S. interests in other parts of the world; disagree with the Clinton’s Administration’s renewal of Most-Favored Nation trading status with Communist China; and various measures relating to the flawed Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).⁽¹⁾

Honor Roll, Hall of Shame: Tallying the Scores

In addition to Sens. Inhofe and Kyl (the latter of whom holds the distinction of receiving the prestigious CSP “Keeper of the Flame” award in 1994) and Reps. Lewis and Solomon, the bipartisan group of 32 perfect-scoring officials include: Sen. Fred Thompson (R-TN), Chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee; Sen. Bob Smith (R-NH), Chairman of the Armed Services’s Subcommittee on Strategic Forces; Sen. Connie Mack (R-FL), Chairman of the Republican Conference; the Chairmen of the Rules and National Security Committees, Reps. Gerald Solomon (R-NY) and Floyd Spence (R-SC), respectively; and Rep. Chris Cox (R-CA), chairman of the newly established Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns With the People’s Republic of China and 1997 recipient of the Center’s “Keeper of the Flame.”

Other legislators who earned this distinction for 1997 include the following members of the House National Security Committee: Representatives Sonny Bono (R-CA)⁽²⁾, Terry Everett (R-AL), Tillie Fowler (R-FL), Van Hilleary (R-TN), John Hostettler (R-IN), Walter Jones (R-NC), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Mike Pappas (R-NJ) and Bob Riley (R-AL).

Regrettably, 18 elected officials received scores of zero on this Scorecard — two in the House of Representatives and sixteen in the Senate — suggesting deplorably poor judgment on security policy matters. Of those 18, six are seeking re-election this November. They are: Minority Leader Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The Bottom Line

The Center for Security Policy produces its annual National Security Scorecard in furtherance of its mission of educating the public and their elected representatives about security policy — and in the interest of holding the latter accountable for their performance in this regard. Toward that end, the Center has distributed the 1997 National Security Scorecard to all current U.S. Senators and Representatives, various members of the press and citizens around the country concerned with the security of our Nation and the defense of its interests overseas.

Click on the following link to view the 1997 Center for Security Policy Scorecard.