Rob Andrews: “It is very important that we take assessment of the excellent ideas in this bill that both parties support. Much of the…”

“It is very important that we take assessment of the excellent ideas in this bill that both parties support. Much of the debate this afternoon and this evening has obviously been consumed by points of controversy, but there are some major points of consensus that each side should be proud of supporting. Number one, each side is vigorously supporting a significant pay increase for the men and women who wear the uniform of our country. Each side is supporting a very significant increase in the quality of housing, education and health care for the servicemembers and for their families. Each side is supporting a significant step toward our Navy, reaching the point where our admirals tell us it ought to be. In 2008, our Navy had authorized and at sea in the fleet 286 ships. Under this bill, our Navy will have authorized and at sea in the fleet 293 ships, a gain of seven ships. Our admirals tell us that the optimal size of the Navy they would like to see us have is 313 ships. So we have a ways to go, but progress is being made.”