Neil Abercrombie: “we have gone through this. Whether the gentleman likes that it is before us in this context is really beside the point.…”

“we have gone through this. Whether the gentleman likes that it is before us in this context is really beside the point. I would have preferred it in another context as well, but we have to deal with the reality that it came to us as a result of the Senate action and is on the floor. If it was inappropriate, if there was some parliamentary reason for it not to be here, I expect we would not be having the discussion. So my answer to the gentleman is that I am trying to deal with it in the context within which it has been presented, and I would like to deal with the substance of the issue rather than the process. Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would say I appreciate the gentleman's comments. My question was predicated upon the gentleman's assertion that this motion to instruct was related to this Defense bill when, in fact, it is not. The gentleman may wish to interject arguments about whether or not it is important or is not. My single point was this has nothing, with a capital N, to do with the Defense authorization bill. It is a motion to instruct another committee to do something that this committee does not have jurisdiction over.”