Political Quotes

“I purposely desired the clerk to read the short amendment because this affects the interests in 6 States. This tragic hurricane struck North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. Those are the States that were declared by the President as Federal disaster areas. The technical decision has been made by the appropriate authorities that these States suffered severe damage. On the 19th of September, the hurricane caused 45 deaths, and approximately $1.7 billion of total damages, of which approximately $450 million was sustained in Virginia and $410 million in Maryland. I offer this amendment on behalf of colleagues in all of those States. I have listed thus far myself, Senator Allen, Senator Sarbanes, Senator Mikulski, and Senator Dole. I expect other Senators from those States will desire to add their names at their own initiative. Why on this particular bill should this funding be provided? It is a legitimate question. No. 1, it is taken out of the funds in this bill for the Department of Defense. It is not an add-on or an end run. It is straightforward from the Department of Defense. In consultation with the individual military services, it was relayed to me that the functioning of these military facilities in the States enumerated is essential to the current operations of the United States military.”