Statement by Speaker Dennis Hastert: Kerry's Record of Cutting Intelligence

WASHINGTON, DC - "President Bush has provided America with steady leadership during these times of historic challenges to the security of our country.

"In John Kerry's nineteen years in Congress, he proposed billions of dollars in cuts to our country's intelligence capabilities. Even in the aftermath of the first World Trade Center bombing, he proposed cuts to U.S. intelligence of more than $1.5 billion.

"John Kerry led the charge to cut intelligence funds in the 1990s, weakening our national security and our ability to win the War on Terror, yet acknowledged shortly after September 11th that intelligence is the most important weapon in the War on Terror.

"In these challenging times we need the strong and steady leadership of President George W. Bush."