Political Quotes

“I intend to make a brief statement on the status of the joint United States-North Korea agreed framework covering nuclear issues. I had the pleasure of visiting North Korea, along with Senator Simon, who is here on the floor today. As a consequence of that particular visit, the framework agreement has been an issue of great concern to me and an issue worthy of congressional scrutiny. There have been a number of hearings on the agreed framework. The Intelligence Committee, the Energy Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, and the Armed Services Committee have addressed this subject. I had an opportunity to speak before the Armed Services Committee just the other day. I want to commend that committee for its important role in reviewing the agreement, because there are some 37,000 American troops on the demilitarized zone in South Korea. They are certainly exposed to harm should any conflict arise on the Korean Peninsula. It is interesting to note that under Armed Services Committee oversight, the Department of Defense has seen fit to fund the purchase of approximately 50,000 tons of oil. The first shipment called for under the agreed framework.”