Brian Jones: “I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding. You know, it is kind of amazing that many of us on my side are…”

“I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding. You know, it is kind of amazing that many of us on my side are considered conservatives. I hope that I am considered a conservative. Pat Buchanan has written so many articles about the new war party. The new war party is the Republican Party. It is the Republican Party because of the reason that Mr. McGovern is talking about today. We sit here and we allow all these other spending issues involving our military, and much of it they deserve: pay increases, taking care of their families, doing the good things for our military. But when it comes to sending our young men and women to give their life and limbs, we don't debate it. We just don't debate it. I don't know if the military industrial complex that Eisenhower warned the Congress about--do they control Congress? I don't know. I haven't checked the campaign finance donations from the military industrial complexes. But something has changed my party from understanding our constitutional responsibilities. Nothing is more important--nothing in the House of Representatives is more important than sending a young man or woman to die for this country. If this amendment allows us to have a debate on whether that young man or young woman should give their life, then we owe it to the families of America. {time} 1415 This amendment that Mr. McGovern and myself and Ms. Lee and Mr. Smith and Mr. Garamendi offered is very simple.…”