Political Quotes

“The bill that we have before us that we have brought to the floor is something that has already cut programs substantially across the board. But the way that we have cut it, we feel, is responsible and manageable. Some of the cuts that we have had in here--the Office of Secretary, as I had mentioned earlier, has been cut by 9 percent below the request, 8 percent below FY 2012, and it is 18 percent below the FY 2010 level. The bill has reduced management to a bare minimum, with decrease in most offices, including General Counsel. The bill has already cut TSA management by $60 million, and $20 million is cut in the Aviation Security Account. This amendment that the gentleman from New Jersey is bringing up, by taking $15 million more from this account, will impair TSA's ability to manage its aviation security missions and is also simply not responsible. The amendment would slash funding for the Department's intelligence programs, which represent a core homeland security capability. For grants, the bill provides $2.8 billion for Homeland Security first responder grants, $400 million more than provided in FY 2012. Of that, the bill provides $1.8 billion for the Secretary to provide to programs that address the highest need, based on the threat and based on risk. Breaking out specific grants, as this amendment does, funds projects for various programs without an overreaching lens.…”