Mike Levin: “This bill includes a handful of contentious provisions which were adopted during the course of the markup. There always…”

“This bill includes a handful of contentious provisions which were adopted during the course of the markup. There always are contentious provisions in this bill, and the reason we are here is to debate those provisions. Hopefully, we will have that opportunity. Some of the provisions in the bill I support, some of the provisions I objected to in committee and I voted against them. But we should not deny the Senate the opportunity to take up a bill which is essential for the men and women in the military because we disagree with some provisions in the bill. These are legitimate issues for debate, and the Senate should debate them. But the only way we can debate and vote on the issue--the various issues, contentious and otherwise--is if the Senate proceeds to the bill.”