Daniel Inouye: “This is a very serious amendment. Potentially it could be damaging. It says, very simply, if the funds are not obligated…”

“This is a very serious amendment. Potentially it could be damaging. It says, very simply, if the funds are not obligated for 2 years, then it is rescinded. It sounds reasonable, but I think it is no secret it takes longer than 2 years to build a battleship. It takes more than 2 years to build an aircraft carrier. It takes more than 2 years to build a hospital. Right now, there are 43 VA hospitals being built. Are we going to cut them out? What about the shipbuilding industry? Are we going to rescind that? This amendment has potentially very dangerous consequences. I hope my colleagues will vote against it. I yield the floor.”