Political Quotes

“I begin by thanking my ranking member, Senator Warner, and Chairman Levin for their outstanding work on this bill and achieving a compromise which would allow us to bring to the floor this legislation that would provide compensation for all veterans, not just a small number of them. It was a difficult situation to deal with, and they handled it beautifully. I also thank my friend and colleague from Nevada, Senator Reid, for being the lead sponsor, the originator, of S. 170, which provides full compensation for all veterans, no matter what the percentage of disability. I am pleased and proud to have been a cosponsor of that legislation. I also thank Senator Hutchinson of Arkansas for his leadership as well on this issue. There are many Senators who have been involved in this legislation and who have worked tirelessly on behalf of veterans over the years, but it has been a long and difficult road. Every time I talk to veterans, veterans will tell me they have been waiting and waiting for this and they do not understand why the high numbers of cosponsorships on the bills to provide this full compensation do not yield in the end, after all the conference committees are finished, the passing of the legislation. I think now we are going to see that happen finally. My support for this legislation goes back to being a freshman Congressman in 1985, when a Congressman by the name of Mike Bilirakis of Florida had this legislation in the hopper.”