Political Quotes

“we are still wrestling with the challenge of what to do about the supplemental appropriations that have been requested by the administration. This morning, in our Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, chaired by the distinguished Chair's State colleague, Mr. Inouye, and also led on the Republican side by the distinguished Senator from Alaska, Mr. Stevens, we heard testimony from the Secretary of Defense, Mr. Gates, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mullen. They drew a very frightening picture of what is happening to the military forces, not just in Iraq and Afghanistan and deployed elsewhere in the world, but also in our training accounts, many other support activities for our military, pay and allowances--all the accounts that fund the Department of Defense that have been included in the supplemental budget request are suffering and many are running dry. The accounts are running dry. We are at a point that is past serious. I am not going to say it is desperate, but it certainly concerns this Senator that we continue to wait and wait and wait on Congress to act on the President's request for supplemental appropriations for our military forces at a time when they are engaged in military action overseas and protecting our security interests here at home. So I am pleased the Senate is taking up this request to fund activities in Afghanistan and Iraq and to respond to domestic natural disasters.”