Political Quotes

“In regard to the pending amendment by the Senator from Connecticut, I think it is important to show how these funds are being spent. I referred to the bill that we put in last year in the Senate Armed Services Committee, known as the Floyd D. Spence national defense authorization on page 378. These funds are to be used for the following purposes: to hire additional firefighting personnel; to train personnel in fire fighting, emergency response, arson, prevention, and detection or the handling of hazardous materials; or to train firefighting personnel to provide any of the training described in this subparagraph. There is no greater threat facing this Nation today than weapons of mass destruction, and as we listened to the very able work being done by the Attorney General of the United States and others in connection with the crisis of September 11, they are obligated to tell this Nation that we cannot ring the all clear sign, that we have many problems and it could possibly include weapons of mass destruction of the type of chemical or biological. It is difficult for me to enunciate that in this Chamber. That is precisely what these funds are to be used for, to train firefighters. They are oftentimes both professional and volunteer. I thank my colleague. Last year, I remember, we wanted to give parity with the professional volunteer. That has been done. They are the first on the scene.…”