Political Quotes

“my second item deals with the defense budget. While the administration's request for a supplemental appropriations bill for the Department of Defense includes what the administration believes is the minimum needed to get by for the remainder of this fiscal year (01), I respectfully disagree with their definition of ``minimum.'' Although we are hearing promises of an amended '02 budget with a huge defense plus-up, it is clear that the Defense Department appropriations bill for 2002 may indeed be the last of the 13 appropriations bills we will consider this year. That unfortunate timing may threaten the availability of all the extra funds many believe the Pentagon desperately needs. Simply put, there is no guarantee that the money the Pentagon needs will be there when the Senate takes up the amended Defense appropriation bill for 2002. We must stop kicking the can down the road with promises to our forces--their need is urgent, they need help now. The problem will only continue to worsen, we need to act now. Just last week, the Navy's top officer, Admiral Vern Clark, said he is trying to rid the United States Navy of the ``psychology of deficiency''--the acceptance of sustained resource shortages as a normal condition. Sadly, Mr. President, this ``psychology of deficiency'' has not only infected the culture of our Armed Forces, but I am afraid it has become the culture.”