Bob Menendez: “I rise to oppose this undemocratic rule, and I stand here today to honor our troops who are putting their lives on the…”

“I rise to oppose this undemocratic rule, and I stand here today to honor our troops who are putting their lives on the line to defend our freedom and our way of life. We Democrats support funding the war on terrorism and homeland security, and if Republicans gave us a clean bill to fund just these efforts, we would have a unified House; a unified House. But instead of supporting our troops, Republicans are playing politics, the very worst type of politics, with the futures of the very people who are protecting us. And yes, there is an emergency here, and that is the $750 billion debt we are placing on America's children, seniors, families, and veterans. Yes, I stand here today to honor our troops who are on the front line for freedom and those who have fought in the past to secure the freedoms we enjoy. But this House has a responsibility to protect these American heroes, and that is what we intend to do. That is why we Democrats are trying to do everything in our power to prevent Republicans from mortgaging the future of our fighting men and women by saddling them with a debt that will take generations to pay off, a debt that will raid Social Security and Medicare. If my colleagues believe in this debt limit increase, if they believe in unbridled credit card spending, then vote for it and let those of us who oppose it vote against it and let the American people see who stands on what side.”