Political Quotes

“I thank Senator Whitehouse for that question. I would observe, in fact, that the executive branch, very importantly, followed a number of the leading ideas Senator Whitehouse and our group fashioned. Of course, we take no pride of authorship or ownership in those ideas, and many of them came from some of the best minds in the administration, who are, in fact, thinking seriously about this problem. So I think it really has to be a partnership--not only a bipartisan partnership in the Senate and the Congress, but also a partnership between the executive and legislative branches. I conclude with this thought: In many of the briefings we had as Senators, off the record or classified, I was struck by how horrified and at least alarmed most Americans would be if they heard some of the stories of how close America has come to the next Pearl Harbor, how close we have come to cyber catastrophe, and how vulnerable the Nation still is, despite the growing awareness in both the corporate and military sectors of our country about this threat. So when we talk about creating awareness, we are talking literally about spreading information that is vital for Americans to know. I will close with the thought that I hope the leaders of this country who have control over classifying information would seek ways to inform the American public about the risks and the dangers posed from cyber attack. Madam President, I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island is recognized.”