On the recordSeptember 21, 2010
I rise to oppose the filibuster of the National Defense Authorization Act and to say what is obvious--that this is a preelection campaign season. There are a lot of politics, partisan politics swirling around, everything going on here, including procedural matters such as those we are involved in right now. But there are two things I know and I believe, and I wish to express them about this vote coming up. One is, we have to proceed to consider the National Defense Authorization Act. If we do not do it today, I hope we will do it as soon after as we can because our military needs it. They are in combat. Without this legislation passing, we will not have the authorization to increase compensation and benefits for the military and their families, we will not have authorization for critical military construction, we will not have authorization for acquisition of critical military equipment that our troops need to fight safely on our behalf and to remain what they are--the bravest, most effective fighting force in the world. So it may be today, it may not be today, but it is going to be sometime before the end of the year that we have to take up this bill. It is our national, constitutional, moral responsibility.
