Mark Alford: “I thank my friend from Pennsylvania for yielding. I rise today in favor of this Military Construction, Veterans Affairs…”

“I thank my friend from Pennsylvania for yielding. I rise today in favor of this Military Construction, Veterans Affairs appropriations bill. Mr. Speaker, I also want to share my appreciation for Kelly Dixon, who is leaving the Rules Committee. She is one of the first persons we met as freshmen. Mr. Speaker, you remember us going to the Rules Committee office and Kelly running us through how things operate here on the House floor. I had no experience in politics, and it was all new to me. She made the rules clear, and decorum, as well, which is such an important part of this institution. We wish Kelly well. I want to say a special thank-you to the Appropriations Committee, in particular, Chairman Cole and Defense Subcommittee Chair Calvert, for the $144 million in this bill, which is going to go to the advanced individual training barracks for prestigious Fort Leonard Wood in the southeastern part of the Fourth Congressional District of the great State of Missouri, which I represent. Fort Leonard Wood is a wonderful center of excellence, training the men and women who are tasked with protecting our great Nation. I was down there last year to visit and saw the need for new barracks on this great facility. It was real, Mr. Speaker. I also thank Secretary Wormuth of the Army for making this a priority in the President's budget because, together, we are working to increase our retention and recruitment for the armed services. As you know, Mr.…”