Political Quotes

“today, the 9/11 Commission released its report and the Commission Chairman, Thomas H. Kearn, said that an attack ``of even greater magnitude is possible--even probable.'' In fact, intelligence assessments have long warned that al-Qaida is seeking weapons of mass destruction to use against Americans in the United States. The 9/11 Commission specifically recommended today: ``Support the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program'' and went on to state that it ``is now in need of expansion, improvement, and resources.'' Yet the conference report before us today includes a rescission insisted upon by the other body of $50 million in fiscal year 2003 funding for cooperative threat reduction programs. In other words, although this bill appropriates $409 million for these programs in fiscal year 2005, 12 percent of that amount from prior appropriations is being taken away. I think that is a huge mistake. These programs, known as ``Nunn-Lugar'' programs after former Senator Sam Nunn and the current distinguished chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Lugar, assist countries of the former Soviet Union in the safe and secure transportation, storage and dismantlement of nuclear weapons and nuclear and chemical materials, as well as preventing the diversion of nuclear materials or equipment. So, we have just cut funding for programs that will help keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists.”