Political Quotes

“It is always a challenge, Mr. President, to go toe to toe with my distinguished colleague from Mississippi. The citizens are blessed for having such a powerful and respected voice in the Senate. We have had a long and strong relationship. I am still proud to call you leader. And you exhibit that leadership and have done so magnificently, particularly here recently. Quickly, I digress from what I intended to say by way of opening with a couple of points. That is, the BRAC process will not begin until Congress has received and reviewed an overseas basing master plan from both the administration and an independent commission to Congress authorized in the bill. Both of these reports should be available by August 2004. That is an important point raised. We have addressed it. That information will be before the Congress. Second, under the law as written, the Senator brings out a series of points about what this law does to protect us. There is quite a litany of steps. Congress will have numerous opportunities during the process to affect BRAC actions.”