Political Quotes

“this amendment has the effect of placing a serious impediment, if not an absolute block, against the United States proceeding to fulfillment of a contract entered into by the Department of Defense--more specifically, the Navy Department having been the executive agent on this contract--for the procurement of the replacement helicopters commonly referred to as marine I. It is the fleet that serves the President primarily and others associated with the White House. This contract was in negotiation for over a year. It was an open and free competition. So far as I know there was no question raised against the contract being awarded to the winning company, a U.S. company, together with a consortium of overseas participants with, nevertheless, the U.S. company being the lead company. The amendment was drafted to the Arms Export Control Act and it is intended to prevent the Navy from going forward with this acquisition program. This is a matter that is clearly within the jurisdiction of the Armed Services Committee. Normally, we consult committees before acting. I do not fault the distinguished chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. I think at the time this was done very hastily, it was not clear to the staff and the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee that it was within the jurisdiction of the Armed Services Committee. Otherwise, I would have come over to the floor earlier.…”