Charles Skelton

I happen to agree with the en bloc amendments put forward by the chairman. We have examined them thoroughly and discussed them thoroughly. I think they are certainly worthy of passing. However, if I may comment on other amendments, much…

I strongly support the Tauscher amendment. Let us talk common sense on this issue. The key to neutralizing hard and deeply buried bunkers is solid and accurate and detailed intelligence. So let us remember. Remember the political fallout…

If soldiers like this woman, Carissa Jenkins, were forced against their own better judgment and their own life circumstances to reup because they felt they were about to be compelled without their own volition back into active duty, would…

I recommended to the Committee on Rules four major amendments. I stated the amendments from our committee, and I do not make recommendations lightly; and when I do, I hope the Committee on Rules would take them seriously. Most important is…

I think it is a good thing we are doing, adding to the end strength of the troops. I am not sure if America fully knows, the understanding that we have some 4,000 coming out of Korea toward the Iraqi situation.

I happen to think the gentleman has a good amendment. In my opening statement on the bill in the committee, if the gentleman will recall, I suggested this very, very strongly. And without going into great detail, I will just reiterate what…

In line with my responsibility for oversight, I made a request a good number of days ago in a letter to the President asking when the White House, when the Defense Department, when the State Department received the International Red Cross…

all one has to do is listen to the debate that we have had on this floor today. We are short of troops in the United States Army. We help correct that in this bill by authorizing, through the supplemental, 10,000 additional Army troops…

I think coercion is certainly absolutely wrong. I would say to the gentleman that we would do everything we could to correct the mistake. I am certainly positive that the military would stand behind a mistake that they made. As I said…

I might say there was a serious attempt to have a bipartisan resolution today; but let me say that on this side we were not shown a draft until almost 6:30 last evening, and we were not permitted to share a copy with our leadership until…

Mr. Speaker, all Americans were shocked by what we saw at the Abu Ghraib prison. The abuse of Iraqi prisoners offends our values as human beings and as Americans. I am deeply disturbed by the administration's handling of this issue. A…

Mr. Speaker, I rise with heavy heart, a heavy heart for two reasons. The first reason is that a group of American soldiers forgot that they were soldiers and they forgot that the middle name of a soldier is 'honor,' in doing the despicable…

first let me say that the amendment being offered today by my friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), and by my next door neighbor back home, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), is very important. It would…

Actually, this is a very, very important bill; and I speak in favor of it. As you know, we have two major, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East regarding the American forces. The first is a guerrilla warfare in Iraq and the second is going…

This bill attempts to correct a situation wherein a military ROTC recruiter seeking access would, in essence, be sent to the basement or to another building where corporations such as General Motors and the like recruiting would have the…

my understanding is, and I am sure I am correct, that there will be forthcoming a supplemental request. I am told it will be in the neighborhood of some $50 billion for the ongoing operations. So it would seem to me that we would be able…

I support strongly the Spratt resolution. Quite honestly, it is better on national defense than the resolution offered by the majority. Here are five reasons why. First, the Spratt alternative matches the President's overall request for…

I truly wish that I could support this rule. National security is a bipartisan, or actually a nonpartisan, issue. And when we commend the troops, all of us, all of us have a stake. Every congressional district has a stake in commending the…

I will never forget writing that speech down, and I copied it verbatim on a tablet with pencil, the final words of that undelivered address. The final words, "Let us move forward, with strong and active faith," and I think those words…

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was bigger than life when I was a youngster, and properly so, because he did such a wonderful job in leading America out of the worst Depression in our history and leading the United States toward victory against…

I rise today to offer my reflections on a trip I recently took with the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), leader, and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes) to Iraq and Afghanistan. I think it is important to publicly…

Last year I stood in this well and called on my colleagues to support an increase in the Nation's military end strength, the number of people in our uniformed services. I am pleased that my colleagues rose to the challenge and recognized…

I will oppose H.R. 2673 because it breaks promises Congress made regarding education, it cuts necessary Federal funds for State and local law enforcement, and fails to extend unemployment benefits for thousands of Missouri workers who are…

there is no truer indication of a nation's priorities than the investment it makes in the health of its citizens, particularly our senior citizens. Medicare was created nearly 40 years ago with a basic fundamental principle in mind: health…

Throughout the time I have been privileged to serve in the House of Representatives, I have been honored to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do what is right for rural America. Today, the House is considering H.R. 6…