Brian Jones

In this story, John Sopko, the Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, tells that the worst boondoggle he has ever seen is the fact that the Department of Defense spent $6 million to buy nine goats--nine goats--for $6 million…

I have brought to the floor today a prophetic political cartoon. Let me describe it very quickly. There is Uncle Sam sitting in a wheelchair, and he shouts out with great excitement: I can see Greece from here. Behind the wheelchair…

We have already spent more in Afghanistan than it cost to rebuild Europe after World War II. In fact, last week I asked my staff to draft a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan. In the letter, I asked the Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, to meet…

Some of the most egregious examples of waste in this list are the $486 million the Pentagon paid for deathtrap aircraft that were scrapped and sold for $32,000. You spend $486 million and what you get back is scrap. It costs $32,000. Also…

Yesterday I came back to Washington, as my colleagues did, and I saw the headlines in Politico that said: Hill GOP on the Hot Seat Ahead of Recess. It was a piece about the leadership's effort to pass a $1.7 trillion budget. Mr. Speaker…

I have been coming to the floor for weeks and months to complain about the waste of money and life in Afghanistan. In the last couple weeks, I had an opportunity to read two articles. The first is titled, ``This is How the Pentagon Wasted…

If we do not meet our responsibility, we will become complicit in the loss of life among our troops. How many young children will have a loved one that doesn't come home from fighting for this country? The picture here, Mr. Speaker, is the…

2 weeks ago when Secretary of Defense Ash Carter testified before the House Armed Services Committee, I asked him if Congress' debating and voting on an Authorization for Use of Military Force, NOTICE If the 114th Congress, 1st Session…

I continue to be amazed and disappointed that the Republican Party wants to keep putting money in a black hole. The black hole is known as Afghanistan. The story broke yesterday that the Pentagon spent $43 million on a single natural gas…

This weekend, I learned that there would be no cost-of-living adjustment this year for those living on Social Security. Not only will Social Security recipients not see a cost-of- living increase this year but, also, disabled veterans…

The recent news about Afghanistan is, at best, distressing. Soon Congress will be debating an increase in the debt ceiling so we can borrow more money to pay our bills. The sad part is that some of that money will go to Afghanistan. Three…

One of my dearest friends, and a man nationally known for his knowledge and wisdom on so many subjects, recently celebrated his 80th birthday on August 20. That special friend is Ron Paul. Those who had the pleasure to serve with Ron know…

On July 22, The New York Times published an article titled ``Afghan Security Forces Struggle Just to Maintain Stalemate,'' by Joseph Goldstein. Mr. Goldstein writes that, because of extremely high casualty rates in the Afghan security…

On Thursday, July 9, I saw a report on ABC News that former President George W. Bush charged $100,000 to speak at a charity fundraiser for military veterans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. I was disappointed to learn that a President who…

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that I bring these pictures to the floor of those who give their life for this country. This is a flag-draped coffin being pulled off a transport plane in Dover, Delaware, and it is time that we…

I thank Mr. McGovern for the time. Mr. Speaker, as many people have said today, even those who are for the resolution and against the resolution, we have a constitutional duty. That duty is to debate. I want to quote James Madison, to put…

I am on the House floor today to express my thanks to Senator Rand Paul for his 11-hour filibuster of the PATRIOT Act reauthorization on May 31. I voted against the USA FREEDOM Act, which would have reauthorized the PATRIOT Act, because…

I want to thank my friend, Mr. McGovern, for always being out front on this issue, and I am delighted to join him. As he said in many of his comments, the House has a responsibility to the men and women in uniform and to the American…

Last week, The Washington Post ran a story titled, ``Defense Firm that Employed Drunk, High Contractors in Afghanistan May Have Wasted $135 Million in Taxpayer Dollars,'' by Colby Itkowitz. Colby writes: ``The defense contractor…

I thank the gentleman. I appreciate listening to you, and it reminds me of a conversation I had on the floor of the House last week. As you know, I have been here 20 years. I came with Newt Gingrich, and Bill Clinton was the President. We…

Mr. McNerney, thank you very much, and I want to thank you for taking the lead tonight to be on the floor. I know you have other Members of Congress to join you in your hour, but I have been here for 20 years, and I must tell you that…

Last week, while we were in recess, I traveled through my district and had the opportunity to appear on local television and to speak at civic clubs. Every time I mentioned that we have an $18 trillion debt, eastern North Carolinians were…

Last week, mailman Doug Hughes flew a gyrocopter onto the Capitol lawn to make a point about the influence of money in politics. While I don't condone violating restricted airspace and putting innocent people at risk by flying a gyrocopter…

I am back on the floor today because, while we were home during the Easter break, there was a tragedy in Afghanistan that largely escaped the national news. On April 8, Army medic John Dawson was shot and killed and eight other Americans…

In recent days, the waste of billions of dollars in Afghanistan has been dominating the headlines: March 20 of this year, ``Afghanistan Can't Manage Billions in Aid, U.S. Inspector Finds''; March 14, 2015, ``C.I.A. Cash Ended Up in Coffers…