I do not come to this well with a speech that I have written because I had no intention tonight to give a speech. I came to this House to hear the debate on amending one of the most cherished documents that this world and this Nation have…

this morning I saw one of the most blessed sights that any husband or parent could ever see: My wife, cuddling in her arms, our 3-month-old son, both of them happy, healthy, and safe. But as I left them, I was haunted by the words spoken…

this rule is unfair to America's veterans. Let me repeat, this rule is unfair to America's veterans. Do not take my word for it, listen to what national veterans leaders have to say about language in this bill that the Committee on Rules…

I would like to challenge every Member of this House today to take another pledge, a pledge that we will not go home in February for a month, a pledge we will not take a paid vacation as Members of Congress, while this Nation is on the…

I know this issue of defaulting on the good faith and credit of the American economy and our Government debts is an issue that a lot of folks back home do not necessarily relate to themselves personally. But I would like to specifically…

I am disappointed that some Members on the Republican side of the aisle would not walk those 45 feet it would take to sign a discharge petition so we would not default on our debt, so that on March 1 we could pay Social Security recipients…

this morning at St. John's Church there was a memorial service for our departed colleague from Oklahoma, Mike Synar. As I listened to the deserving tributes paid to this remarkable public servant, I realized that death sometimes robs us of…

I would suggest to the Speaker and to our colleagues that if having Members of this House bounce thousands of dollars in personal checks goes directly to the integrity of this House, how in the world could we not conclude that having the…

I would like to read one more letter from a real person in my district, another victim of the Gingrich shutdown philosophy. Mr. Edwards: I used to live on welfare but I fought my way out of the system. I'm employed at the VA hospital in…

this legislation will basically help the VA medical centers bring the best quality of health care to our Nation's veterans by allowing flexibility in pay scale for VA nurse anesthetists. This will allow us to keep many of our finest nurse…

This bill will not be on the evening news broadcast nationally this evening because there is no conflict on it, because the Congress has done its business the way it should do its business, on a bipartisan basis, putting the interest of…

I do want to make the record clear to people throughout this country and to Members of Congress that, after speeches on the floor by the majority leader several months ago and several other Members of the majority party, this bill, as of…

the Congress has a long record of support for America's veterans and for the VA health care system on which so many veterans depend. That system, like health care delivery generally, is facing an era of challenge and change. A critical…

when Republicans promised welfare reform, who would have guessed that would mean a $63 million special tax break for billionaire Rupert Murdoch? When Republicans promised immigration reform, who would have guessed that they would mean…

No. In this perfecting amendment, as I mentioned a few minutes ago based on the gentleman's request, this amendment does not change the intent or the content in any way of my original amendment. The only purpose of this change is to adapt…

If the theater missile defense system would require space-based interceptors, on that issue I am not aware of a particular program that is recommending that.

Rather than deal with hypotheticals, let me let the words speak for themselves. They basically would prohibit space-based interceptors for a ballistic missile defense system.

I am not asking this House to accept my judgment. I can pull out all the experts you would like: Gen. Colin Powell who said a national missile defense system is a waste and would take money away from important defense priorities. I could…

If you want to say no to Star Wars, vote yes on this amendment. If you think $30 billion and 12 years is enough on one program, then simply vote yes on this amendment. On the other hand, if you believe in Star Wars and you want to spend…

I want to be sure the gentleman's comments are not misunderstood to misrepresent my amendment. My amendment does not stop research and development of any program. And, furthermore, I hope those same Members that have some concern for…

In no way is this amendment intended to affect either a national missile, continental ground-based national missile defense system or--in fact, if anything it is intended to help save more money to put into theater missile defense instead…

I happen to believe that after having spent already $30 billion and some 12 years on star wars, enough is enough. Finally here is a time to say no. I just think that after 12 years and $30 billion, and not one brilliant pebble in space, it…

I think the gentleman is agreeing with me in his earlier comments when he says he is not really interested in deploying in the near term a star wars space-based interceptor system. If that is correct and if that is the view of the majority…

I am a defense hawk, and I believe national defense should be a nonpartisan issue. Even though defense should be a nonpartisan issue, I am disappointed that the Republican rule has resulted in 204 Democrats only having 15 minutes to…

I just wanted to have the gentleman clarify, as he just did, that the chart does not refer to star wars. It is a ground-based missile defense system and that some estimates for a star wars space-based system go from $11 billion to $50…