On the recordNovember 17, 2011
as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and as the ranking member of the Readiness Subcommittee, I wish to speak for a few moments and comment on the National Defense Authorization Act. I will begin by thanking the majority leader for honoring his commitment to bring the National Defense Authorization Act to the floor for debate, amendment, and passage. As Leader Reid pointed out this morning, this would have been the first time in a half century in which we would not have passed a national defense authorization bill. In the midst of two wars, with our brave sons and daughters and husbands and wives fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, with our country facing a serious threat from radical Islamist terrorists, that would have been unacceptable. I very much thank Chairman Levin and Ranking Member McCain for their leadership. In this era that has been characterized by gridlock and partisanship in Washington, the Armed Services Committee has represented a welcome exception. The Senate Armed Services Committee has a long-enjoyed, well-deserved reputation for professionalism and bipartisanship as we work across party lines to support our troops and their families who sacrifice so much for our country to keep us safe.…
