Political Quotes

“I want to take a few minutes today to speak on the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual policy bill for the Department of Defense. Let me start by noting that Senator Carl Levin, who is Chairman of the committee that put this agreement together, will be retiring after this year. This bill carries Senator Levin's name on it in what I think will be a fitting tribute to his legacy here. I have appreciated his wisdom on so many issues over the years, and I know I am in good company when I say to Senator Levin that his leadership will be missed in the United States Senate. Passing a defense authorization bill is one of Congress' most important annual tasks, and it has been for decades. I have supported some of these bills throughout my time here and given the number of security concerns facing this country--the continued presence of ISIL in Iraq and Syria, Russia's ongoing efforts to destabilize Ukraine, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa--I hoped to be able to support this bill as well. Regrettably, however, I am forced to vote against this defense bill. Most Americans may not know this, but the United States is still spending as much on defense as it spent at the height of the Cold War. This bill before us today would authorize nearly $600 billion in total defense spending--including more than $60 billion in war funding.…”