Political Quotes

“the gentleman has talked to me, and I have talked to the chairman about this issue. This is a very delicate issue. We had the same situation in Philadelphia a couple years ago when they closed down the Navy yard there. The Navy insists it needs the personnel. They are very short. They are overly committed all over the world, and they need these 3,000 people in other places. I have to say to the gentleman he is actually better off with it going with the appropriation process where we could work with him trying to help solve some of the problems that they have in Puerto Rico when they close down a base. For instance, we have done it in San Francisco. We have done it in other parts of California. We did it in Philadelphia. We did it in Texas. And we are very aware of the economic disruption, and if the gentleman would withdraw his amendment, we will certainly work with him. And it is going to take some time because we probably have to make a visit to Puerto Rico and see exactly what we are talking about. One of the big problems we have, some of this equipment, when they knew they were going to close down, do not take care of it. So we need to see what really needs to be done. But the gentleman can be assured we will do everything we can to help him. If this works its way through the entire Congress and the conference, we will do everything we can to help him.”