Charles Skelton

Mr. Speaker, recent press reports have indicated that the administration is planning to begin the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq in the spring of 2004. Based on recent visits to my congressional district in Missouri, I believe…

it is the constitutional job of the Congress of the United States to maintain and support the armed services of our country. I stand here in support of this resolution tonight because of that constitutional duty. And I know there have been…

Mr. Speaker, a great Roman orator once said that gratitude is the greatest of all virtues, and that is what this resolution does; no more, no less. It expresses gratitude, appreciation and thankfulness to those young men and women in…

As a stalwart supporter of our troops and as cosponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 177, I am pleased to join my colleague and my friend, the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), in…

even before we were a nation, we had our flags. Different from today's to be sure. But serving the same purpose--symbols of unity, and of our hopes, achievements, glory, and high resolve. Brave New England patriots faced down British…

A special thanks to that wonderful staff that we have for the efforts, the late hours they have put in. This could not have been done without them. ... I would like to quote the great Roman orator, Mr. Chairman, who once said that…

Times have changed. Situations have changed. But I think one fact that is very important is the fact that NATO is an ongoing, successful organization, and it has recently expanded, and we should take advantage of that expansion and the…

It not only makes the law consistent with the rest of the statutes regarding the qualifications for an attache which should have been done some time ago, I think it also sends a message to that country regarding recent activities insofar…

I might say, Mr. Chairman, this is an era of increased concern about weapons of mass destruction. This amendment includes a very prudent approach for enhancing our Nation's ability to hold at risk deeply buried targets. Additional…

I think, frankly, this is a good amendment, for two reasons. The first is it calls for an assessment by the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, because this is a diplomatic as well as a military organization…

I rise today to commend our troops on the battlefields in Iraq. Their continuing advance to victory is a product of that courage and ingenuity under changing conditions. It is also the results of extraordinarily detailed and adaptive…

Let me share, if I may, Mr. Speaker, an experience I had yesterday. I went out to Bethesda Naval Hospital, and I had the opportunity to visit with seven of the 10 young Marines and one sailor who were injured in the Iraqi war, the Iraqi…

First, let me compliment the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Shadegg) for offering this resolution before the Congress, the sense of Congress regarding the Blue Star Banner and the Gold Star. I think this is certainly fitting and proper…

Floyd Spence was a true Southern gentleman, a good friend, a dedicated Congressman, and a champion of a strong national defense. I had the pleasure of serving with him on the Armed Services Committee during his chairmanship, and I found…

This is a solemn moment for this body. We are here this evening representing Americans all across our land, and we are here to say on their behalf thank you to the young men and women who wear the uniform today, just as those veterans have…

I speak of the valor and the courage and the dedication of young men and young women who are protecting freedom and safety of our country and of the free world, whether they be on the outskirts of Iraq or in Afghanistan or wherever they…

I wish I had the eloquence of diction to sway everyone within hearing distance to vote for this resolution. However, in my mind it is one that speaks loudly and clearly about the young men and young women who wear the uniform today, many…

A number of years ago, I had the opportunity to go down to Norfolk Naval Base and watch the USS Theodore Roosevelt deploy for its 6-month deployment. There I saw the greatness of America aboard ship as the sailors would wave and also on…

today I speak of duty. This is the third time that I have stood at this podium with the question of military action in the balance. There is no more serious vote nor more sacred duty than this, deciding to ask those who serve this great…

Mr. Speaker, my fellow Missourian Mark Twain once said, ``The more you explain it to me, the more I don't understand it,'' and I have a difficult time in understanding why we cannot go forward with this issue. The motion by the gentleman…

Mr. Speaker, this week marked the 1-year anniversary of American efforts to drive al Qaeda from Afghanistan and liberate the Afghan people from the Taliban. We have already learned important lessons from that conflict. First, we reaffirmed…

as we gather in the House chamber with tremendous sadness over the passing of our dear friend and colleague, the Honorable Patsy Mink of Hawaii, I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the career of a distinguished public servant…

by its verbiage, this is limited to the resolution that passed Congress on September 14, 2001.

Mr. Chairman, I thoroughly support this amendment, and I fully support the war against terrorism. I support the bill as reported from the Committee on Appropriations, and I rise to comment on one of the important deficiencies in this bill…

Mr. Chairman, we are on the eve of Memorial Day, a day set aside each year beginning with the war of 1917-1918 to recognize and memorialize those who paid the ultimate price and those who served and, subsequently, those who fought in wars…