Melvin Watt: “I wanted to make the point too that when I am in Washington, I live just across the line between Northeast and…”

“I wanted to make the point too that when I am in Washington, I live just across the line between Northeast and Southeast. On a number of occasions on Friday evenings, I have had the occasion to be just on the Southeast side of that line down in the area where these maneuvers are taking place. I doubt that the gentleman could imagine the number of visitors that come into Washington for these events, for these maneuvers, along with the families of these service people. We regularly, as Members of Congress, get invited, though we are seldom here on Friday evenings to take advantage. But if you look at the benefit that is probably coming out of these maneuvers and the participation of the public and the support it builds up for our military and for the economy in this area, it is just a dramatic illustration. I just wanted to make that point. Mr. Chairman, this is not my earmark. I wouldn't even be the stereotypical supporter of this. But it is an illustration of the national value that this earmark would play.”