David Minge: “I would like to make it clear that this is not legislation which is in any way concerning President Bush's distinguished…”

“I would like to make it clear that this is not legislation which is in any way concerning President Bush's distinguished service to this country. The controversy, instead, is over whether or not we create yet another special fellowship program in addition to the 760 that we already have on the books. The question is whether or not we are going to consolidate and somehow streamline some of our activities or if we are going to continue to have this sort of unravel into a series of programs that are almost impossible for us to oversee in Congress. I certainly would join and associate myself with the remarks of my colleagues from Pennsylvania and Mississippi about the distinguished career of President Bush, but I think that there is no more distinguishing tribute to his service in this body and as the President than to say that we are going to practice the type of austerity and fiscal responsibility that he so well preached himself.”