I have to ask my friends who have spoken before me: If the bill is as good as you say it is, why are any of these bribes in the bill to begin with? The President said, January 25, ``It is an ugly process, and it looks like there are a…

I thank the gentleman. And I know my friends on this side of the aisle feel just the same way. Not one of those things comes out in the reconciliation process. My question is, if the bill is so good, where has the transparency been? Why…

I have to tell you that at only 20 minutes per side, that sort of gives a signal to veterans also what the majority thinks about veterans. This is a good bill and I'm going to support it, but it saddens me that this is the vehicle in which…

I've got to say this on behalf of veterans; they're not comfortable with this TRICARE wording. In the dark of the night or in the light of the day, unintentionally or intentionally, the health care bill does put TRICARE on the chopping…

I support this bill, and I certainly think a moment of silence is the fit and proper thing to do. I look forward to traveling with the gentleman not just to Iraq and Afghanistan, but actually some of the places where we have World War II…

It's a simple truth that Republicans in Congress spent too much money. It's a simple truth, though, that in 12 years of Republican deficits, the Democrats in 1 year spent more money, with a deficit of $1.4 trillion in 1 year. It's a simple…

If the Democrats are so proud of the health care bill, why the subterfuge? Speaker Pelosi said, If we can't cross the fence, we will pole vault over it. We will tunnel under it, we will break through it. In other words, they are going to…

I thank the gentlewoman. Thirdly, we now have an engaged Pakistan. One hundred forty-seven thousand troops have closed off the safe havens the Taliban has been running to in Pakistan itself in the meantime. Things are happening. And while…

First of all, let me say to the majority, I am glad you have offset this money. I think that is a significant step for both parties, to have a spending bill offset. So I want to get that out of the way. Having said that, I have got to say…

Number two, we need to let community banks be released from some of the overbearing and unnecessary regulations in which they have to comply, because that causes them not to be able to lend money and thus small businesses are tied up in a…

I rise as a friend and mourn and share the loss not just to the Murtha family, the State of Pennsylvania, but to the entire Nation, and certainly every man and woman wearing a uniform. I was proud to know Jack Murtha, proud to serve in the…

Four hundred thirty-five Members, you've got to have rules, strict rules, or you won't get anything done. I said, Well, how could it be rejected? I haven't presented it and until I present it they can't reject it. I said, Well, this is…