Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, on May 1 the Committee on Armed Services reported H.R. 4546 on a strong bipartisan vote of 57 to one. The bill authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense and for the Department of Energy national security programs for a total of $383 billion in budget authority, consistent with the President's budget and with the House-passed budget resolution. Over the next few hours, we will debate and explain the many initiatives contained in this bill to support and strengthen our Armed Forces during this critical period in our Nation's history. I am pleased to once again be able to report to my colleagues that this legislation embodies the same bipartisan spirit that has guided U.S. national security policy for decades. It provides for pay, housing, fiscal and physical well-being of our Armed Forces members and their families. It provides for the research and acquisition of our military arsenal so critical to maintaining our combat edge on the battlefield. It provides for the resources and tools to properly train our forces to be ready to defend our freedoms around the world at a moment's notice, and it also provides for our Nation's military retirees, who devoted a better time of their lives for this country. Mr. Chairman, this is a very good bill. It follows the spending blueprints set forth by the President to make his defense budget the largest since 1990.”