Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I am disappointed the Senate is not able to confirm MG Heidi Hoyle today. As I said earlier, the work Major General Hoyle would do, if confirmed, is vital to the success of our Army. And now I want to consider another patriot whose promotion is being held by my colleague from Alabama: Brig. Gen. Rebecca Sonkiss, U.S. Air Force. Brigadier General Sonkiss is the current commander of the 618th Air Operations Center, the Tanker Airlift Control Center at Scott Air Force Base in my home State of Illinois. The 618th Air Operations Center is responsible for operational planning, as well as scheduling, directing, and assessing a fleet of about 1,100 aircraft that conduct combat delivery and strategic airlift, air refueling, global air mobility support, and aeromedical operations around the world. General Sonkiss, a command pilot who has had a distinguished career of service to her country, is leading the 618th Air Operations Center as it does some of the most complex, most important, least celebrated work in the Air Force. And yet her promotion is being held up, not because of concerns about the fairness of the process or her own qualifications. No, her promotion has not been granted because one Senator would rather use her and other servicemembers like her to try to manipulate the DOD into doing what he wants instead of engaging in the legislative process. I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 110, 23 nominations.…”