Porter Goss: “I rise in support of this complicated but fair rule and this very important Department of Defense authorization bill…”

“I rise in support of this complicated but fair rule and this very important Department of Defense authorization bill that the gentlewoman is bringing forward for our attention so capably today. First, with respect to the rule, Members know that this has been an extraordinarily challenging process. I think that this rule is now ripe for Members' consideration. I congratulate the gentleman from California (Chairman Dreier) and our committee for persistence in navigating what obviously would be described as complex waters, bringing this bill to the floor, particularly the role of the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Myrick) that has been helpful. We did the best we could to ensure that the most important areas of debate were covered and to ensure that Members had options to vote on with regard to those major issues. As for the underlying bill, Madam Speaker, I applaud our colleagues, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spence) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) for bringing forward a bill that helps chart the future of our Nation's defenses as we embark on the next century.”