Political Quotes

“Today I rise in support for amendment #127 offered by Congressman Jim Bridenstine of Oklahoma; Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina and myself to H.R. 2397, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2014. Our amendment would provide an additional $10 million to the National Guard State Partnership Program. It would be offset by a reduction of $11 million to the Defense Media Activity in the Defense-wide operations and maintenance account. The amendment builds on the progress made in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 that strengthened and expanded the National Guard State Partnership Program. The National Guard provides unique capacity building capabilities to Combatant Commanders and U.S. Ambassadors via 65 comprehensive partnerships between National Guard units across the United States and partner nations. The State Partnership Program directly supports the broad national interests and security cooperation goals of the United States by engaging partner nations via military, socio-political, and economic conduits at the local; state, and national levels and these additional funds will further strengthen existing relationships as well as foster new partnerships. In particular, as we rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region the State Partnership Program offers a very visible and tangible component of that rebalance that meets both our military and diplomatic objectives in the region.…”