Ken Calvert: “I thank my good friend, the chairman of the full committee, Mr. Cole, who has done an excellent job of putting this…”

“I thank my good friend, the chairman of the full committee, Mr. Cole, who has done an excellent job of putting this continuing resolution together under difficult circumstances. The appropriators tried to come to an accommodation, but we weren't able to get there. So the best alternative we have today is this continuing resolution which does good things for our country. It obviously keeps the government shutdown from happening to the American people and fully funds our core government services. Something that I am interested in, and I think most Members are interested in, is our national security. This continues to fund our national security. It makes sure that the young men and women who serve our military, especially our enlisted soldiers, are going to get a historic pay raise, the highest pay raise they have had in 40 years. A lot of these E-1s who come in and make $11 an hour, their pay is going to be put up significantly. This is something that I think needs to happen, so I would hope my friends on the other side of the aisle would not vote to diminish these individuals' pay that they need very much. This also supports important weapons systems: the Virginia-class submarine, the Columbia-class submarine, shipbuilding across the United States, our satellite construction, and rebuilding the ordnance for the United States that we need desperately. A vote against the CR would stop all of this. So to me, Mr.…”