Political Quotes

“I rise to address two very important bills that are before the Senate this week--the National Defense Authorization Act and the border supplemental appropriations bill. First, on the NDAA, I am pleased that this bill meets the needs of our all-volunteer force by providing the brave men and women with one of the largest raises in a decade, that of 3.1 percent. With the rising threat of countries such as China, Russia, and Iran, this NDAA authorizes funding for crucial defense efforts to make certain that our military is well prepared and equipped to defend this Nation from the threats and challenges we face. The NDAA substitute actually includes an amendment I offered, joined by my Senate Environment and Public Works chairman, John Barrasso, of Wyoming, by Ranking Member Carper, and by several other bipartisan cosponsors. This amendment will formally address the PFAS contamination about which I have spoken on the floor. It directly mirrors my legislation, the PFAS Release Disclosure and Protection Act, which the committee approved last week. PFAS pollution is a nationwide problem, but its effects are concentrated locally, often in rural and disadvantaged communities, especially those near military installations where large volumes of certain firefighting foams have been deployed. Significant exposure to the legacy compounds of PFOA and PFOS have been linked to rare cancers and developmental issues.…”