John Kerry: “I was pleased to be the principal cosponsor of an amendment offered by the Senator from Iowa [Mr. Harkin] to the Defense…”

“I was pleased to be the principal cosponsor of an amendment offered by the Senator from Iowa [Mr. Harkin] to the Defense authorization bill, amendment No. 4177. It was my intention to join Senator Harkin on the floor to speak in favor of the amendment that seeks to obtain a greater sharing of the financial and other burdens of stationing American troops in foreign countries. However, Senator Harkin successfully negotiated with the managers of the bill and they agreed to accept the amendment. As a consequence, it was hastily offered and approved by a voice vote last night while I was away from the Senate floor and could not reach the floor before that action was concluded. Because of my strong support for this amendment, I would like to insert in the Record the statement I intended to make when the amendment was offered, and I ask unanimous consent that the statement be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the statement was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: Allied Burdensharing Mr. President, I am pleased to join with the Senator from Iowa in offering this amendment. Unlike previous burdensharing amendments that simply asked our allies to pay more of the costs of stationing U.S. troops abroad, this amendment incorporates a more comprehensive definition of the price of international peace and security.…”