Jim Webb: “I wish to take 5 minutes and address some of the issues raised on the other side and speak briefly about the Graham…”

“I wish to take 5 minutes and address some of the issues raised on the other side and speak briefly about the Graham set-aside. First, Senator Kyl from Arizona read a communication from the administration expressing its disagreement with the approach Senator Hagel's amendment is taking. I would like to say, quite obviously, that one would expect the administration to object to rational acts that might be placing restraints--even proper restraints--on Executive authority. A number of constitutional issues have been raised. There are no constitutional issues in this amendment--any more than they were in the amendment I offered earlier. This is a proper exercise of authority under article I, section 8 of the Constitution. In fact, to respond to what Senator Graham said, there have been Presidents who have allowed this congressional authority to take place. The most graphic example was President Truman during the Korean war, when American troops were being sent overseas without proper training, and the Congress passed a requirement that no troops could be sent overseas unless they had been trained for 120 days. That was the Congress taking measures to protect the well-being of troops being sent into harm's way. We are doing essentially the same thing.”