Political Quotes

“Thank you, Chairman McKeon. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. This bill sets important national security priorities, such as the block-buy procurement of two space-based infrared system satellites. It also establishes important oversight mechanisms for the acquisition timelines of satellite, ground, and user-terminal segments of space programs, which have been lacking in recent years. The conference report urges and ensures greater efficiency and effectiveness at the National Nuclear Security Administration by limiting the bureaucracy and paper-pushing, and begins the process of important reforms of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. {time} 1620 It requires the administration to make good on its nuclear infrastructure modernization promises, including completing the Los Alamos Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement Nuclear Facility by 2026. The United States must not be the only nuclear weapons state without a meaningful production capability. It also imposes important oversight on unilateral nuclear reductions, including requiring a new nuclear posture review. Lastly, it supports a robust national missile defense, including requiring the Department of Defense to begin the work of fielding an additional missile defense site in the United States, likely on the east coast.…”