There are two things that I think are important to note about the Speier amendment. First is that the author of the amendment is actually a full member of the Armed Services Committee and chose not to offer this amendment in the Armed…

This amendment is unlike anything that you're going to see in the National Defense Authorization Act. That's because this is not a function of Congress. This amendment says the President shall end the permanent basing of the 2nd Cavalry…

Do I have the right to close, Mr. Chairman? The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from California has the right to close.

We have a significant problem of sexual assaults in the military, and this bill addresses many of the issues that we know legislatively will help both change the culture and change the environment in the military. Recent surveys indicate…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: At the end of subtitle D of title V, add the following new section: SEC. 5__. DISCHARGE OR DISMISSAL, AND…

I want to thank Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Adam Smith for their efforts. They had given to Representative Tsongas and myself the task of doing a bipartisan package to address the issue of sexual assault in the military. We all know…

How much time do I have remaining? The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Ohio has 2 minutes remaining.

I appreciate the concern that I have heard from the other side of the aisle. The issue, I think, comes down to being in a military uniform should not be a get-out-of-jail-free card. Basically the state of the law is that if you're in a…

Last year I stood here on the House floor and I asked the President of the United States to make available to us, to Congress and the American public, the details of what I believe is, and many have seen is, a secret deal that the…

Mr Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 79, after line 23, insert the following: SEC. 241. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON NEGOTIATIONS…

About 5 years ago in my community, we were saddened to hear of the news of the tragic death of Marie Lauterbach. Marie Lauterbach was a marine who came forward to report the sexual assault that she had endured and came forward and reported…

We include mandatory minimums that say if you commit a sexual assault, you are out of the military, you will be dishonorably discharged, and if you are a trainer and you enter into a trainer-trainee relationship that is inappropriate, you…

I am here today to speak in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act, and I am very privileged to serve as the chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee. I first want to begin by thanking Chairman McKeon and Ranking…

The ranking member of the Finance Committee, member of the Judiciary Committee, I was told I could speak even before that, but then the majority leader came out to the floor to do some important business, and I was put back. I have about 5…

Mr. President, I would like to join in the debate on immigration reform, and I think my colleague from Utah who just spoke makes a couple good points--one on the substance of the legislation and the need for us to be concerned about what…

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and thank you for your leadership on this most fundamental, most basic of issues. You think about the folks who started this place, this experiment in freedom we call America. In Europe they said you…

According to last week's jobs report, nearly 12 million Americans--12 million of our fellow citizens--are out of work. That's simply unacceptable. The American people deserve better than a constant parade of job- destroying regulations…

I want to thank the gentleman from California for being consistent in coming down to the House floor and always making sure that the issues of the day are brought to the American people, but also trying to persuade the House of…