Political Quotes

“If the Senator would yield, I would appreciate that very much. We are talking about the TSCA bill, and it is one that is almost a must-pass type of bill. We have support on both sides--I think almost total support. If we could have another 10 minutes to talk to a couple of people, I would like to make that motion. If you could, go ahead and talk about the Defense bill. Mr. McCAIN. I thank the Senator from Oklahoma. When he gets ready, we will obviously be ready to yield to the Senator from Oklahoma for consideration of that important legislation. In the meantime, I would like to point out that, as part of this package of $18 billion, it increases the military pay raise to 2.1 percent. The current administration's budget request sets pay raises at 1.6 percent. It fully funds troops in Afghanistan at 9,800. The budget request of the President funds troop levels at 6,217. It stops the cuts to end strength and capacity. It restores the end strength for Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. For example, it cancels the planned reduction of 15,000 active Army soldiers. If the planned reduction actually was implemented, we would have one of the smallest armies in history, certainly in recent history. It funds the recommendations of the National Commission on the Future of the Army. It includes additional funding for purchasing 36 additional UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, 5 AH-64 Apaches, and 5 CH-47 Chinook helicopters.…”