Political Quotes

“I thank Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Kaptur and all their subcommittee colleagues for, again, putting together a strong Energy and Water appropriations bill this year. As the chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, I know how crucial that bill is to our national defense. The Atomic Energy Defense activities funded by this bill and authorized by the NDAA are critical to our nuclear deterrent, and that nuclear deterrent is not just the warheads and missiles over in DOD; it is also the people, capabilities, and infrastructure in DOE. Together, they comprise our nuclear deterrent. My amendment would align a key aspect of this appropriations bill related to DOE's nuclear weapons infrastructure with the fiscal year 2019 NDAA that the House passed 2 weeks ago by a bipartisan vote of 351-66. My amendment provides $24 million in funding to the Material Staging Facility project, which will enable huge security improvements, operational efficiencies, and billions in long-term cost savings at the Pantex plant in Texas. This project was initiated in the fiscal year 2018 NDAA and fiscal year 2018 omnibus appropriations bill, because Congress recognized its importance. My amendment would ensure that this project stays on track and align with its fiscal year 2019 appropriation and with the fiscal year 2019 NDAA authorization. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting what they have already supported in the NDAA and vote ``yes'' on my amendment. Mr.…”