Chuck Grassley: “after reading that memo, I want to tell my colleagues that this option was the overwhelming pick among these agencies.…”

“after reading that memo, I want to tell my colleagues that this option was the overwhelming pick among these agencies. Fifteen executive branch agencies supported the option that I just read from Secretary Rubin to President Clinton. Only one agency objected, and that lone agency was the Department of Transportation. Now, the Defense Department was willing to pay for this option. Yet, the Transportation Department opposed. Why? Why would the Department of Transportation oppose the Defense Department paying for these maritime subsidies, but subsidies limited to meeting our true defense needs, not one ship more than what the Secretary of Defense said we needed? Now, of course, we all know that the President of the United States is a busy man. And so, in preparing a decision memo, you want to make certain that you put your absolute most important arguments front and center. The 15 agencies had a number of important arguments in favor of this option. First and foremost in importance is the fact that the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Commander of the Transportation Command said the real defense needs could be met with as few as 20 U.S.-flag ships.”