Political Quotes

“As the ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I join with my colleagues. I want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro), who is a valued member of our committee, for his leadership on this critical issue, and also the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Sires). I agree with everything that they have said heretofore about these draconian cuts. I am here because I am rising to strongly reject the Trump Administration's draconian cuts to the International Affairs Budget. Now 2\1/2\ months into the Trump Administration, I find myself deeply troubled by the direction American foreign policy is heading on many fronts. I was particularly shocked when the White House released its fiscal year 2018 budget calling for a 31 percent cut to American diplomacy and development efforts. In my view, cutting the International Affairs Budget by even a fraction of that amount would be devastating. We haven't seen many details, but a cut that drastic would surely mean that too many efforts and initiatives that do so much good would wind up on the chopping block. Here is the bottom line: Slashing diplomacy and development puts American lives at risk. If we no longer have diplomacy and development tools to meet international challenges, what does that leave? It leaves the military. Now, don't get me wrong. I have always supported a strong national defense, and I do support our military, and I do support giving them more money.…”