Political Quotes

“this evening I want to take the time to discuss an item of military policy which has directly and negatively affected my home community of Guam, but which will inevitably find its way into other communities. That is the process of privatization, outsourcing, contracting out what are currently civil service jobs, particularly on Department of Defense installations. Many Members of this body every year argue for an increase in the amount of money that this country spends on defense. They cite shortfalls in procurement and spare parts, declining recruitment numbers, crumbling infrastructure and aging equipment. There are also those Members who chastise these efforts and demand that the Pentagon do more with less and find a better way to conduct business in order to save money and meet these shortfalls. In a way, they are both right and both wrong. Congress does need to do more for the troops in terms of housing and salaries; time on deployment or in training; education benefits and health care. In most cases, this will require an increased level of funding from this body. Congress also needs to ensure that officials in the Pentagon are spending these funds in the most prudent and efficient manner possible. This responsibility requires that Congress certify the Pentagon's fiscal decisions with the utmost consideration to the Nation's long-term strategic goals. Unfortunately, this has not always been the case.”