Rodney Frelinghuysen: “Before speaking on the motion to recommit, Mr. Visclosky and I would like to thank our consummate professional staff…”

“Before speaking on the motion to recommit, Mr. Visclosky and I would like to thank our consummate professional staff that put this bill together for all of us, headed up by our clerk, Rob Blair; Tim Prince; Paul Terry; Walter Hearne; B.G. Wright; Brooke Boyer; Adrienne Ramsey; Megan Milam; Collin Lee; Cornell Teague; and Sherry Young; of my staff, Nancy Fox, Steve Wilson, and Katie Hazlett; minority clerks Becky Leggieri and Taunja Berquam; and from Mr. Visclosky's staff, Joe DeVooght. Mr. Chairman, over the years, Members of Congress have agreed that the Defense Appropriations bill is no place for partisan politics. Our national security is far too important. This week, the leadership of the other party has decided to throw that tradition out the window, and their timing couldn't be more unfortunate. As we gather here this afternoon, over 200,000 men and women in uniform do the hard work of freedom across the globe--in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Sinai, Eastern Europe, along the DMZ, and other faraway places. These members of our Armed Forces and their comrades who serve here at home and their families all deserve our admiration and untiring gratitude. This bipartisan bill before you delivers for them. I urge a ``no'' vote on the motion to recommit and ``yes'' on final passage of this bipartisan bill that recognizes and honors their service. I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore.…”