John Rice Carter: “I thank the distinguished chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, on…”

“I thank the distinguished chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, on which I have the joy to serve, and I commend him on a great product, and I commend Mr. Bishop on a great product. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 5854, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill. This bill is very important because it takes care of our soldiers and our warriors, wherever they may be, their families, and the Nation's veterans. This bill ensures our warriors and their families will have quality housing, schools, medical and dental facilities, training facilities and much, much more. In fact, this bill provides a recommendation of over $546 million for the construction or replacement of DOD education activities and schools. As a consequence, what we appropriate with this bill is a peace of mind dividend to our warriors because they're like parents everywhere: you've got to worry about your kids and their schools when you're away doing your job. So this is an indication by us that our Nation cares for our soldiers and our warriors, wherever they may be, and want to provide the best. Madam Chair, this bill is a good bill. And yet, it meets the obligations we have to these warriors, and we stay within our projected view that it's time for us to keep a close eye on and squeeze every budget to make sure that we're saving the taxpayers' dollars.…”