Political Quotes

“Mr. President, bottom line: This is unnecessary. There are robust existing coordination mechanisms among the IGs to ensure comprehensive oversight, provisions in the committee-passed NDAA to assist the DOD IG with enhanced hiring authorities, and $27 million in dedicated funding for oversight for each of the three IGs from DOD, State, and USAID. The provision also includes a requirement that the lead inspector general complete a briefing to any Member of Congress within 15 days of request. This almost certainly ensures that the LIG will spend their time scheduling and briefing Members of Congress, not conducting oversight. Lastly, as drafted, the $10 million authorization of appropriations is nonviable funding, and the offset is not valid as neither element includes a funding account for money to go to or from. So this is entirely hollow budget authority. With that, I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Louisiana.”