On the recordSeptember 21, 2010
I rise to speak in favor, of course, of the cloture motion and of taking up the National Defense Authorization Act. This is critically important legislation. I know the debate has been mostly about a couple of parts of it or one amendment or maybe two amendments that may be offered to it. But the National Defense Authorization Act has to be passed. It has been passed every year for more than half a century. Why? Because it authorizes increases in compensation and benefits for members of the military and their families. No matter what you think about any amendments that may or may not be put in, I do not think any of our colleagues truly want to stop that from happening, nor do they want to stop the authorization of the procurement of military equipment that our soldiers need to protect them and to continue to be the most effective fighting force in the world, nor do they want to stop the authorization for military construction in the United States and around the world that our troops and their families need to live decently.
