Department of Defense Appropriations Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I rise in opposition to this amendment. But I wish to say the Senator from Oklahoma raises a very good point. But this comes under the jurisdiction of the committee that he is actually the ranking member on, with the new chairman, Senator Tom Carper, to be done in an authorizing action, not on this particular bill.

It does need some updating. But the other point that needs to be looked at--I think the Senator from Oklahoma will agree with me because the Federal Government cannot do everything--is what role the States should play in helping counties, particularly rural counties such as what happened in Joplin, MO, such as what has happened in Oklahoma, such as what has happened in Tennessee. What should States do to help these more rural counties that get hurt?

I agree with the Senator in the need for an update. This is not the time to do it, however. I urge a ``no'' vote on his amendment and turn it over to the authorizing committee, of which he is a member, to provide for appropriate oversight in that venue.

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Ms. LANDRIEU. The Senator is correct that this bill is full of reforms that he and I and others have worked on. But every one of these reforms has been agreed to on both sides of the aisle; this has not. The Senator could continue to work with us and find a way forward.

I would urge a ``no'' vote on this now. I promise we will give him its full attention and get this taken care of but at a later date.

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