Tom Harkin: “Let me thank the chairman, Senator Stevens from Alaska, and his ranking member, the Senator from Hawaii, Mr. Inouye, for…”

“Let me thank the chairman, Senator Stevens from Alaska, and his ranking member, the Senator from Hawaii, Mr. Inouye, for their hard work on this Defense appropriations bill. As a member of that subcommittee, I have been pleased to work with them and their very able and diligent staffs to shape a Defense appropriations bill that does indeed meet the needs of our times and provides the funding resources our military needs in these very trying times. Again, I express my support for the underlying bill, the Defense appropriations bill. Again, my gratitude goes to the Senator from Alaska and the Senator from Hawaii for all their hard work.”