Political Quotes

“I commend the Senator from Wisconsin on his words, which I agree with and endorse. Mr. President, with all due respect to my esteemed colleague, the senior Senator from North Carolina and chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, I add that I, too, strongly oppose the amendment he has offered to the pending DOD supplemental appropriations bill. First, this amendment is virtually identical to legislation the Senator introduced earlier which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Clearly, the committee should have hearings on this legislation, so that the full impact of these proposed changes in U.S. policy can be publicly discussed prior to Senate action. Although I oppose the policy direction set forth in the amendment, as the ranking minority member of the Committee on Foreign Relations I will work with the distinguished chairman of the committee to facilitate committee consideration after full public hearings. The Senate should have the views and recommendations of our committee prior to voting on legislation as important and significant as this. Second, the distinguished chairman and I both want to see a free and democratic Cuba, but we disagree on the policy our country should adopt to achieve our common goal. I have long spoken to the need for a serious reexamination of our country's policy toward Cuba. However, the chairman's amendment clearly does not reflect the direction I had in mind.”