Robert C. Byrd: “That is an old herring, going back to the Clinton administration.”

In closing, may I say that the President's request includes $658 million for construction of the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.

I cannot support this item unless there are some limitations on it, unless Congress can exercise its power over the purse, as the Constitution provides.

I will also ensure that the OIG pursues aggressive oversight of contracting issues.

Promoting efficiency and preventing fraud in defense acquisitions will obviously be a high priority.