Niki Tsongas

I have long supported bringing our troops home from Afghanistan as quickly as possible, and was in favor of an even more expedited timeline than the President.

For a safe, stable, and secure Afghanistan to emerge, women must be fully included in Afghan society and government.

Women's rights are not a tradable good.

We can always do it better. If we did it right the first time, we would be out of a job.

Ma'am, I'm more afraid of my own soldiers than I am of the enemy.

It is a crime that continues to shock us with its regularity.

``Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the same…

The bipartisan language in the motion before us would require that the Department of Defense produce a plan to promote the security of Afghan women and girls as it withdraws from the country. It would encourage the recruitment of women as…

The tragedy that took place in Benghazi on September 11, 2012, shocked and saddened the Nation.

The number of lease sales don't translate into more drilling on these leases necessarily. Oil companies already hold leases in the Gulf of Mexico that are sitting idle that contain nearly 18 billion barrels of oil, according to the…

The personal nature of sexual assault makes it difficult for victims to come forward and discuss the details of their experience.

In addressing the issue of military sexual assault it is necessary to address some fundamental areas, namely: Command, Culture and Accountability.

This legislation provides commonsense access to maintain water facilities within the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness area. These water features were present prior to the congressional designation of Wilderness and are necessary…

H.R. 2157 provides for a land exchange between the United States Forest Service and the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. We applaud Congressman McKeon for this legislation and support the passage of this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

This bill corrects a survey error made in the 1960s. The landowners will be required to pay $20,000 for these two parcels. We have no objections to Congressman Gosar's legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

(Ms. TSONGAS asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

At this time, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney), the author of the underlying legislation.

I would urge the Department to do everything in its modernization efforts to incentivize lighter-weight body armor in its acquisition process--lighter-weight while still matching the necessary threats.

I oppose President Obama's initial request for supplemental funding for the surge for an additional 30,000 troops because I had questions about our strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan that I felt went unanswered.

I remain concerned by the fact that our female service members are wearing armor which was not specifically designed to fit their anatomy.

As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Secretary of Defense Bob Gates have both noted, our rising debt has implications for both our influence around the world and our ability to project strength.

The City of Lowell remains tremendously grateful for the contributions that the Federal Government and U.S. Congress have made to the renaissance of our city through the National Park Service.

I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California who has taken such an interest in this very grave issue and played an important leadership role, Congresswoman Speier.

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Massachusetts will be postponed. Amendment No. 6 Offered by Ms. Brown of Florida The…

I believe the commission's approach should serve as a model as the Committee crafts its budget: everything must be on the table.