Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment to strike a critical provision of this year's NDAA. I do share my colleague's concern for the current state of our U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker fleet. I do believe there are ways that we can address that issue, but I disagree with his proposed solution. To be clear, the National Defense Authorization Act authorizes funds for the Department of Defense. The U.S. Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Security. This amendment seeks to take millions of dollars away from the Navy in the long term and shift it to the Coast Guard for their expenditures. Make no mistake about it: if this amendment passes, there is no stopping the Department of Homeland Security or any other agency from poaching enormous sums of our Defense Department budget in the future. Today it is Coast Guard icebreakers, and next year it may be the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research and survey vessels. The possibilities are endless; unfortunately, the funds are not. Mr. Chair, I would urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment to ensure that our Navy and Department of Defense funds are used only by the Navy and the Department of Defense. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.”