Steny Hoyer: “I thank my friend from Massachusetts for yielding, the acting ranking member of the Rules Committee right now, who is a…”

“I thank my friend from Massachusetts for yielding, the acting ranking member of the Rules Committee right now, who is a distinguished Member of this body. I rise in deep disappointment at the treatment he was accorded last night. It was unworthy of this body, unworthy of the Rules Committee, and unworthy of the character and integrity of the gentleman from Massachusetts. I am pleased that there has been an apology for that, but I did not want it to go unmentioned. This body is better than that; although, at times, it is not. We ought to all lament the fact when it is not. Madam Speaker, the rule to consider this bill is not only unfair but inconsistent with the majority's stated goal of having an open process. I will quote the Speaker in just a couple of minutes. My friend from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) has put forward a bipartisan amendment--and I want to commend the gentleman from North Carolina, my Republican colleague, and I hope all Americans, Madam Speaker, notice the courage and conviction that the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) has. He was sponsoring an amendment with the gentleman from Massachusetts, and they don't always agree. But as the gentleman from North Carolina said: There is no more important issue that confronts a country than sending its young men and women in harm's way at the point of the spear.…”