Kennedy questions Austin, Blinken in Appropriations
Kennedy asked Blinken supplemental: $16B child care, $6.5B extend high-speed internet, $3.1B FCC
Kennedy: Mr. Secretary. I’m looking at your and the president’s proposed supplemental. What does $16 billion do for child care, $6.5 billion for the Federal Communications Commission to extend high-speed internet, and $3.1 billion for the FCC to reimburse telecommunication companies to replace insecure equipment have to do with the world challenges we’re facing right now, and why did you make this request?
Blinken: I would defer to other colleagues on those specific aspects of the budget. I support the supplemental budget request.
Q: why did DOD oppose special Inspector General to follow every penny of taxpayer money in Ukraine?
Kennedy: Last question, Mr. Secretary. I appreciate your candid answers, but why did the Department of Defense oppose my bill calling for a special Inspector General in Ukraine so we could follow every penny of American taxpayer money, given the fact that the Inspector General of the Department of Defense has never been able to audit his own department?
Austin: The Inspector General of the Department of Defense has been involved in this effort from the very beginning. He and he opposed my bill, and I find that ironic because the Department of Defense is the only Federal agency that has never, in the history of ever, been audited. But your Inspector General insisted that he be in charge. Do you not see the irony there with respect to Ukraine, Senator?
Kennedy: I’m confident our Inspector General will do a great job in making sure that we are on track with our responsibilities in Ukraine and Europe.
Kennedy: Secretary Austin, is it not true that the world is on fire in Ukraine, the world is on fire in the Middle East, and that there are embers smoldering in the Indo-Pacific?
Austin: I would say that clearly there are challenges in both the places that you mentioned …
Kennedy: Do you disagree with my statement that the world is on fire?
I would describe it a bit differently. I agree with your premise that it’s challenging …
Kennedy: is it not true that China, Russia, and Iran have worked between and among themselves to either start those fires, encourage those fires, or create those embers?
Austin: I would say that we see evidence of them growing closer together …
Kennedy: Is it not true that China, Russia, and Iran would like to see Russia dominate Central and Eastern Europe?
Austin: I think China would like to see the United States be unsuccessful …
Kennedy: I appreciate you parsing your words, but the situation I just described would not disappoint China, Russia, or Iran, would it?
Austin: I’m certain that it wouldn’t.
Kennedy: Is it not true that China, Iran, and Russia would like to see Iran dominate the Middle East?
Austin: I certainly believe that Iran would like to see Iran dominate the Middle East.
Kennedy: Do you think that would break China’s heart or Russia’s heart to see Iran dominate the Middle East?
Austin: I don’t think Russia or China would be unhappy about that.
Kennedy: Is it not true that China, Iran, and Russia would like to see China dominate the Indo-Pacific and be free to make moves in Sub-Saharan Africa and South America?
Austin: I think that is certainly China’s goal to be the dominant player in the Indo-Pacific …
Kennedy: Do you believe that weakness invites the wolves?
Austin: I do. I think deterrence, in order to deter, you have to show strength.
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Kennedy: supplemental $16B child care, $6.5B internet, $3.1B FCC? Why DOD oppose IG follow taxpayer money?