Political Quotes

“today I rise to express concern about the President's budget proposals for defense. For example, in the Clinton defense budget, spending is slightly increased. This gives a thinly veiled appearance of increased defense spending, but in reality our military readiness and force structure is gutted because the actual dollar outlays are substantially cut. This is not only unwise but is potentially dangerous. Although the cold war has been won, the world today is not less dangerous. From North Korea to Iraq to the Balkans there are threats to world security and our vital national interests. The future of reforms in Russia is uncertain, and a nationalistic relapse would threaten the security of an area which includes the second, third, and fourth largest nuclear powers in the world. In spite of the potential for the need of a strong and prepared military, this President responds by cutting the U.S. defense budget in order to increase domestic and social spending. Mr. Speaker, we must maintain an adequate military, and this budget does not accomplish this.”