Rob Andrews: “This is a strong and good bill on which there are points of serious disagreement. One of those points of disagreement is…”

“This is a strong and good bill on which there are points of serious disagreement. One of those points of disagreement is the extent to which environmental protection laws should be rolled back in the case of military operations. Many of us on our side and some on the other believe they should not be rolled back as much. There are those on the majority side who believe that this is the right way to go. What we are asking for is a chance to debate that question and take a vote. In this bill, there is a serious disagreement about the rollback of the civil protective rights of civilian workers in the Department of Defense. We believe it goes far too far. Many on the other side believe it is the right thing to do. All we are asking for is the right to debate that question and take a vote. It is the supreme and bitter irony that the world's greatest fighting force that defends democracy around the world with great skill and in whom we take great pride, that the bill that funds that fighting force is not being pursued under basic democratic principles. Our military force defends democracy around the world, but we do not have democracy on the floor of the House of Representatives. Vote ``no'' on this rule.”