David Vitter: “I rise very briefly to turn away from the budget for just a few minutes and focus on a matter of extreme importance for…”

“I rise very briefly to turn away from the budget for just a few minutes and focus on a matter of extreme importance for Louisiana and, indeed, the country, and announce a very important and positive resolution to this matter to give us the right leadership we need in place at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in time for this upcoming hurricane season which is due to begin this June 1. Today LTG Carl Strock is ending his tenure as the Chief of Engineers and Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He served the Army honorably for 36 years, and for the last 2 years of his career, I would say he has gone under intense work and pressure as he led the Corps through the extraordinary events of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and those recovery efforts. I join everyone here, Republicans and Democrats, in thanking General Strock for his service and wishing him all the best in the next phase of his life. This comes, as I mentioned, right as our next hurricane season is due to begin on June 1. As we go into that threat and into that battle, as it were, it is very important we have a new commander in place to lead us.”