C. W. Bill Young: “as I rise in support of this conference report, I want to say a special word about the gentleman from South Carolina…”

“as I rise in support of this conference report, I want to say a special word about the gentleman from South Carolina, Chairman Floyd Spence. Chairman Spence and the gentleman from California, Mr. Dellums, and I came to the Congress together in the 92d Congress. We were all assigned to the Committee on Armed Services and we have all worked closely together since that time in behalf of our Nation's security and those who provide the Nation's security. In the last year since the gentleman from South Carolina [Mr. Spence] and I assumed our respective chairmanships, we have worked together on a daily basis, and I think in an unusual partnership between authorizers and appropriators that does not always happen here. I want to compliment the gentleman. I know the rigors and the trials that the gentleman has gone through in order to get us where we are today with a good conference report on a good defense authorization bill, and one that I understand even the President is prepared to agree to. The gentleman deserves a tremendous amount of credit for the contribution that he has made to our national defense effort over all these years and in bringing this particular bill to us today. I compliment the gentleman and appreciate our friendship and professional relationship. One of the items in this bill is something that most of us have been concerned about, and that is what we refer to as COLA equity for retired military personnel.…”