Political Quotes

“last week I had worked out an amendment with the managers of the national defense authorization bill that provided for the Secretary of Defense to study and report on the status of environmental problems in Bermuda associated with the United States military presence on that island for more than 50 years. Senator Inhofe, the subcommittee chairman was particularly helpful in working with me. Inadvertently that amendment was not included in the managers en bloc amendment package on Friday afternoon. However, I am very grateful to the chairman and ranking member of the Arms Services Committee that, by unanimous consent, they have agreed to include this amendment in the authorization bill. Mr. President, for more than 50 years, United States military personnel were deployed to bases on the Island of Bermuda. In fact, United States bases occupied approximately one-tenth of Bermuda's land area. The 1941 Leased Bases Agreement formalized the conditions under which the United States military remained in Bermuda until 1995. The United States was not charged a penny in rent for its use of these properties during all of that period. I know that the distinguished ranking member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Mr. Inouye, is fully aware of the questions that have been raised related to the United States military presence in Bermuda. I would ask him whether he believes that this is something that the Secretary of Defense should look into?”