John Ensign: “the bill actually reflects sort of the sentiments we are talking about here today, but it is only a sense of the Senate.…”

“the bill actually reflects sort of the sentiments we are talking about here today, but it is only a sense of the Senate. We actually want to put it in legislative language. Section 506, page 35 says: It is the sense of the Senate that, to the maximum extent practicable, contracts (including subcontracts) and grants for relief and reconstruction in Iraq from funds appropriated under this chapter should be awarded to United States companies (particularly small and medium sized businesses) and organizations, to companies and organizations located in the Near East region, and to those from countries which have provided assistance to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Our amendment narrows it. It was said there are countries that have been opposing America around the world, not just France and Germany. I agree. But it is France and Germany that have been leading the fight. That is the reason we targeted those two countries. In World War II, European security was threatened. America came to the rescue. In Kosovo, European security was threatened. America came to the rescue. With Iraq, American security is threatened and Germany and France are AWOL.”