Political Quotes

“I am pleased that the Senate has taken up the National Defense Authorization Act. There is a 60-year tradition in this body of getting this bill done because the importance of this bill transcends partisanship. In fact, 81 Senators of both parties joined forces earlier this year to override a senseless veto of this important bill by the former President. Now, while both sides of the aisle can work cooperatively to get this defense policy done, we are now seeing unprecedented--unprecedented-- obstruction by the minority party for passing a budget that will fund the programs that our military and our veterans need. Now, look, if Republicans succeed in this obstruction, I am going to tell you that the government will be forced to go to a full-year continuing resolution. That is not workable. The result will be frozen spending levels for the Department of Defense and for the Department of Veterans Affairs, which amounts to a $70 billion cut in spending for those two Agencies alone, compared to the appropriations bills prepared in the U.S. Senate. I serve as chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, and let me tell you what is at stake for America's veterans and their families. Funding will be blocked for priorities like expanding veterans' access to lifesaving mental healthcare services, enhancing women veterans' healthcare, providing housing assistance, and expediting the delivery of benefits and care for those suffering from toxic exposure.…”