Charles Skelton

From my perspective as chairman of the Armed Services Committee, the bill strongly supports the intelligence needs of those who wear the uniform. Every day, American men and women deployed in harm's way depend on electronic surveillance…

Let's really look at what we are talking about. It is important to note that the amendment allows the Secretary of Defense to classify videotapes. Under the existing rules--by the way, there are three theater internment facilities in Iraq…

I also wish to compliment him on this amendment. Mr. Chairman, there was a lot of hard work that went into this, and what it would do is add the Clean Contracting Act of 2008 to national security and defense. It compiles provisions that…

I go back to the basics, and that is, read the amendment before you. This amendment asks that the Secretaries jointly establish and operate a temporary program to offer employment as translators, interpreters, et cetera. This is not a…

I think back lo those many years ago to a time when I was prosecuting attorney of Lafayette County and had the opportunity to witness our sheriff, deputy sheriff or Missouri Highway Patrol interrogating people who were suspects of various…

Mr. Chairman, Sergeant Jonathan Schulze was an Iraq war veteran who committed suicide after being denied care to address his PTSD symptoms. According to the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, today, among veterans of the…

this is first-year law school discussion. If you read the amendment offered by the gentlelady, it makes reference to 1212(a)(1)(a)(4). It applies only to this. I read that section: ``Any security agreement, arrangement, or assurance that…

The Department of Defense spends nearly $1 billion a year moving freight and cargo around the United States of America. Much of that moved on truck. Many shippers these days, or brokers, are charging shippers, including the Department of…

we're talking about the amendment in front of us. That's what I think people should read. Not something else. Not something that is not on point in the middle of the discussion before us today. Read it. It takes money from the personnel…

I was sorely distressed when I learned of the fact that there were a good number of former military officers that were given special access, many of whom had conflicts of interest in various defense businesses, and they were considered…

Let me add, if I may, an additional 30 seconds, Mr. Chairman. The gentleman spoke about the need to study strategy. After we passed the Goldwater-Nichols Act in 1986, I chaired a panel on professional military education that did a great…

Mr. Chairman, today the House begins consideration of H.R. 5658, which is the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. This bill is a collective effort in the bipartisan tradition of the House Armed Services Committee which…

Let me assure the gentlelady that we look forward to the results of the demonstration project, and I'm always open of course to practical approaches to address the military nursing shortage.

I thank the gentlelady for raising this very important issue, and assure the gentlelady that I certainly share her concerns. The Department of Defense is facing the same shortage of nurses as we are across the Nation. However, the need for…

I know full well of the bipartisanship of which my friends from California speak. I know full well of the work that this Congressional Club has done over, now that I've witnessed, nearly 32 years. I know of the friendships, both Democrat…

as a representative of rural Missouri, let me take this opportunity to share my support for the 2008 farm bill. I commend Chairman Peterson and Ranking Member Goodlatte for producing a balanced and bipartisan bill that would bring a level…

Over the past months, economic conditions in our country have soured. Particularly troublesome to our Nation's economic engine are skyrocketing home foreclosures and loan delinquency rates, which have risen over 85 percent in the past…

In matters of national security, experienced leaders never forget that the unexpected is always just around the corner and that danger is never far away. The Roman orator Cicero immortalized these ideas in his story about the Sword of…

last Sunday the front page of the New York Times included a story about the efforts of the Pentagon's public affairs operation to influence retired military officers now working as military analysts for some of our Nation's largest media…

Article 1, section 8 of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations. Through the years, Congress has recognized the President's role in negotiating trade deals and has granted the President a…

let me take this moment to recognize my former colleague, fellow Missourian, and good friend Bill Clay. Today, I join with my colleagues in support of H.R. 5395, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located…

let me take this means to congratulate Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt, also a senior and well-respected member of the House Armed Services Committee, for crafting a strong, balanced budget for fiscal year 2009. I am pleased to…

I stand before the House in support of H.R. 4166, a bill I introduced to pay tribute to the life of one of those public servants, Mr. Steven W. Allee of Stoutland, Missouri, and a rural mail carrier for the citizens of Lebanon, Missouri…

Madam Speaker, if I may, let me add to the comments today the importance of this legislation. Under our Constitution, it is up to the Congress of the United States to raise and maintain the military and provide the rules and regulations…