Political Quotes

“Those of us who support the Edwards amendment take a back seat to no one in supporting a strong national defense. But we believe that setting the wrong priorities diverts needed funding in a deleterious way for necessary technology and equipment for our front-line men and women. Effective theater missile defense systems are being built to protect our people here at home and our U.S. and allied forces abroad. Research and development must continue so we will be able to deploy a national missile defense system whenever a threat to our shore emerges. I strongly support that, research and development. But this Contract With America provision will risk national security when deployment of space-based interceptors diverts billions of scarce defense dollars and resources from acquisition funds that provide our soldiers and sailors protection from Scuds and other theater missile attacks. That is what our military leaders will tell us and that is what is real national security.”