Political Quotes

“The amendment would eliminate all funding in the bill for the Afghan Infrastructure Fund--a total of $400 million. Establishing the fund at this level of funding was done at the request of the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State in a joint letter to the congressional defense committees in November 2010. The funding was not added to the bill. It was derived by reducing the amount available for the Commanders Emergency Response Program. DOD requested that funding for this account be obtained in this manner. The Departments of Defense and State view this fund as essential to completing large scale infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, such as electrical power generation. Such projects provide the means for economic activity which will help to reduce risk for U.S. troops and help improve security in Afghanistan. I urge rejection of this amendment.”