Political Quotes

“I thank Chairman Thornberry for the opportunity to speak about my amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. Our military is the greatest fighting force in the world. I applaud the Department of Defense's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. However, with our limited resources, we must ensure that these resources are being put to use in the best possible way. Every penny spent by the Department of Defense must be used to advance our military's mission and support our troops. Incorporating higher cost fuel sources into the Department's energy acquisition process is money lost to repair planes, buy ammunition, and defeat the enemy. Moreover, Congress must ensure that we are being good stewards of the American people's money. With our debt soaring towards $20 trillion, it is irresponsible to ask American families to subsidize with their tax dollars fuel sources that have not yet been proven cost-effective. Of course, the Department of Defense would still be allowed to research alternative sources of energy. My amendment ensures that the Department of Defense can conduct research on alternative fuels to ensure these energy sources can be cost-competitive in the future. My commonsense amendment is simple. It provides a framework for ensuring the Department of Defense is engaging in responsible energy acquisition practices.…”