Political Quotes

“as I previously stated, LTG Blum, the head of the National Guard, said in a recent interview about National Guard readiness: I am further behind or in an even more dire situation than the active Army, but we both have the same symptoms, I just have a higher fever. And while this $2.4 billion will be a significant step forward, the Guard's best estimate for the shortfall is approximately $23 billion--a third of it to replace equipment consumed by the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and peacekeeping assignments. The remainder is money that is needed to close the gap from years of underfunding by the Pentagon. Again, LTG Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, has said: I am not talking about the icing on the cake. That's the cake. And they have been cut very badly. I have already mentioned that the Army National Guard has only 34 percent of its required equipment. At one time it dropped as low as 26 percent. And with some 27,000 Guard forces deployed overseas, and another 29,000 either coming back or preparing to go, there is a tremendous need for that equipment. Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.”