Political Quotes

“I would like to read a portion of the language we are seeking to strike. It says: ``For an additional amount for `Military Construction Defense-Wide', $212,996,000 to remain available until September 30, 2020.'' So not only are we looking to spend the money today, we are looking to have the right to spend this money whenever we want over the next 5 years. I don't know of any other part of the budget where we do that. If this is not a slush fund, Mr. Chairman, I don't know what it is. It was set up by a previous administration--an administration, by the way, of my party--and has been decried by Members of my party as being a slush fund. In fact, I think John McCain called it a slush fund, for goodness' sake. I believe Senator Corker called it the same thing. This is one of the reasons. We have no idea why we are spending this money. It is available until 2020. This is a great opportunity, Mr. Chairman, to say no. The money in the overseas contingency operation is there to support the troops who are overseas fighting a war. It is there to fight the global war on terror. It is not there for a slush fund for whatever bases we happen to think are convenient at the time and for which we can't find enough money under the base budget for that. I hope we support not only Mr. Van Hollen's first amendment, but my two subsequent amendments. I yield back the balance of my time.”