Political Quotes

“I want to reserve the right to object. I have been listening to the arguments that are made here. Let's get to the facts. The fact is, if we split this Ukrainian funding now, it is not going to get there quicker; it is going to get there slower. The bottom line is, if you want to help the Ukrainian people out--and I believe the speakers want to help the Ukrainian people out--then pass the omnibus bill that is in front of us. The Senator from Florida is proposing just to pass one portion of this omnibus appropriations bill, and that is the $13.5 billion in aid to Ukraine. I want to be very, very clear on what this move would mean. If we don't pass the rest of the omnibus, the Pentagon is going to shut down at midnight on Friday. OK? Now, all our eyes are on Ukraine, and they well should be, but don't forget for a second that China is a pacing threat to this world. We are going to shut the Pentagon down on Friday? I don't think that is a smart move. Eleven days ago, all the Senators in this body had the opportunity to go to a classified briefing led by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. I asked him what he needed from Congress to respond to the Russian aggression. Do you know what he said? He said: We need a full-year appropriations bill. That is what we have in front of us today.…”