Political Quotes

“I rise today as the chair of the Appropriations Committee to talk about several challenges facing our country. First, I wish to respond to the comments made by many of the Senators this morning on the compelling need to pass supplemental appropriations to help Israel replenish the rockets it has used in its Iron Dome missile defense system. I am an unabashed, unrelenting supporter of that effort. For many years, as a U.S. Senator on the Appropriations Committee, on the Defense Subcommittee, as well as as a member of the Intelligence Committee, I know how important the Israeli missile defense system is, including Iron Dome, David's Sling, and others that are absolutely crucial. I worked hands-on with Senator Inouye--the late great Senator, a Congressional Medal of Honor winner--to make sure we funded the missile defense system for Israel and to work on a bipartisan basis with Senator Stevens and Senator Cochran. We worked together, and thank God it worked. We also implemented an agreement signed by President Bush with the Government of Israel that we would always help Israel maintain its qualitative edge. We have done it, and I am proud of it. Now more than ever an antimissile defense system that has worked needs to continue operation. We know the technology works, but they need to make sure they have the tools to make the technology work-- these additional rockets. We know Israel is under attack. It has always been under attack since its very founding.…”