Political Quotes

“Mr. President, Senator Cotton will be here in a second. A group of us are going to speak about this budget deal. If you believe that the No. 1 job of the Federal Government is to defend this Nation, then we have made a serious mistake in this bill. I have heard House leaders suggest this bill fully funds the military. For that to be true, you would have to believe that the military is OK if you cut their budget $42 billion below inflation. The party of Ronald Reagan would never allow inflation to reduce defense capabilities. This bill, the top-line number, locks in fewer ships for the Navy at a time China is going to expand dramatically. In 2024 and 2025, we are going to cap spending at a level that we cannot expand the Navy, and in the same period of time, China is going to go from 310 ships over a 10- year period to 440. There is less money for the Marines, less money for the Army, and fewer ships for the Navy at a time of great conflict. There is not a penny in this bill to help Ukraine defeat Putin. They are going on the offensive as I speak, and we need to send a clear message to Putin: When it comes to your invasion of Ukraine, we are going to support the Ukrainians to ensure your loss. If we don't do that, then we are going to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory. Senator Cotton--I am going to yield to him. He has a time problem. But we are going to take some time here to explain to you why those of us who believe that the No.…”