Charles Skelton: “Mr. Speaker, we have troops in Bosnia. We have troops on the way to Bosnia. The least we can do is to pass this…”

“Mr. Speaker, we have troops in Bosnia. We have troops on the way to Bosnia. The least we can do is to pass this authorization bill to go to conference, because there are so many, many items in this bill that are noncontroversial that will help the troops, that will help their families, that will give them better living conditions, that will help retrain them in the military, and will also give them that very necessary money for training. Mr. Speaker, if we do not pass an authorization bill, it will be something that has not happened for decades, over 2 decades in this body. We cannot let this body, or the other body, not pass an authorization bill which means so much to those men and women, whether they be aboard ship, in airplanes, or on the ground in Bosnia. Mr. Speaker, I support this motion, and I compliment the gentleman from South Carolina [Mr. Spence], the gentleman from California [Mr. Dellums], my friend, and the effort that they have put into this. I especially appreciate the discussion that my friend from California had regarding the housing allowance and the pay raise that the troops are so greatly entitled to. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this motion.”