Political Quotes

“I rise today to support the funding bill for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science and Related Agencies and commend Senators Mikulski and Shelby for their hard work on this legislation. This bill provides important funding that will strengthen the American economy, promote scientific advancement, and protect our national security. It reflects our priorities by funding State and local law enforcement agencies across the country. Since September 11, 2001, these agencies have been on the front lines of Nation's efforts to fight crime as well as to safeguard our communities against terror. Our law enforcement officials have accepted these responsibilities willingly and have performed admirably. But for several years, they have been burdened by their expanded role. These agencies have asked the administration and Congress for help--but instead of providing them with the funding they need, the Bush administration and the Republican Congress sought instead to cut their budgets. To those who patrol our streets, these repeated budget cuts made no sense, and they made no sense to those of us in the Democratic minority in Congress. Thankfully, there's a new group of sheriffs on Capitol Hill. This Democratic Congress is committed to providing law enforcement with the tools they need to help keep our communities safe. This bill delivers on our commitment. It provides nearly $2.7 billion in State and local law enforcement assistance--$1.5 billion above the President's request.”