Political Quotes

“I thank you for the opportunity to take a few minutes here on the floor to discuss, really, something that follows along from the last couple of hours where we have been discussing national defense issues. The $708 billion that is going to be spent in the National Defense Authorization Act by the Department of Defense is extremely important, and there are many parts of that National Defense Authorization Act that are worthy of discussion. One thing that was not discussed here on the floor but was taken up in committee over the last several hearings was the ability of the military to actually be able to deliver materiel, supplies, in the case of a major conflict. Do we have the ability to deliver the follow-on equipment necessary should a major conflict break out somewhere in the world? The answer is, no, we don't. And the reason is that the American maritime industry has dwindled over the last several decades. In the 1980s, we had about 240 American-built and American flagships with mariners, captains, engineers and seamen and -women on those ships capable of providing the necessary support for the military sealift command. Today, we have about 80 American-flagged ships with American seamen on those ships. {time} 2000 The mariners are in short supply.…”