Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, the Air Force plans to acquire 1,000 next-generation air-launched cruise missiles, otherwise known as the long-range standoff weapon. This is double the size of the existing nuclear-armed cruise missile arsenal. However, many experts have already told us there is no need for nuclear-armed cruise missiles. We already have the most advanced bomber ever created in our arsenal, the B-2 Stealth bomber, and the Air Force will be acquiring new B-21 Stealth bombers. These bombers are capable of penetrating enemy airspace and dropping a nuclear bomb directly above a target, making nuclear-armed cruise missiles redundant. If we decide we want to shoot nuclear missiles from thousands of miles away, we still have very expensive submarines and very expensive ICBMs capable of doing just that. Instead of investing more dollars into our outdated and oversized nuclear arsenal, we must make smart investments on other priorities that actually keep us safe, or on reducing our unsustainable debt and deficits. Yet, last year's budget doubled down and accelerated production of the missile by 2 years to 2025. The accelerated procurement schedule will cost taxpayers an additional $75.8 million more in 2017 than originally planned in the fiscal year 2015 acquisition schedule, but that makes little sense when there is so much uncertainty about whether this missile is affordable or even necessary.…”