I watched the world change during nearly four decades in the Navy, having joined up in 1970. I have been almost everywhere. Several decades ago I went to China and to the United Arab Emirates when they were not the powers they are today…

2 years ago, entering my 31st year in the military, my single daughter, 4-year-old Alex, was struck with a malignant brain tumor. After two brain operations and given 3 to 9 months to live, we moved into a cancer ward and began a journey…

For the past 10 years, the FAA has been working on the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia metropolitan area airspace redesign project. In the time that I and Representative Andrews from New Jersey have been working on this issue, it has…

there is a bipartisan ``way ahead'' in Iraq if viewed in terms of progress for America's security and not solely Iraq's, with a strategy that focuses on our natural interests in this conflict, not just the interests of Iraqis. Our troops…

I believe this bill has a lot to do with enhancing global competitiveness of American small businesses. In fact, in May I held an economic summit in my district in partnership with the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Philadelphia. The…

through my 31 years in the military, I came to understand throughout this world how much we are respected for the power of our military, for the power of our economy, and admired for the power of our ideals. After I became head of the…

this is a tough bill. We found out after Vietnam that, instead of rotating our forces, if we had just stayed there with the same force, as we did in World War II, our fighting would have been more effective and less lives would have been…

I asked to speak this evening on SCHIP, the bill that was passed today. Unfortunately, I was unable to be there during the day here on the House floor during the debate, but I wanted to speak about the importance of it to me personally and…

I am here to speak about Iraq. Americans are tired of this war, but at the same time they want to secure the best of the situation for the perception of security not just in that region but globally. I watch the Republicans and our concern…

Ending this tragic misadventure in Iraq is necessary but insufficient. How and the means by which we end it is of even greater importance, both to the safety of our troops and to our overall strategic security. First, our troops. It took…

I can be and am disappointed in this bill we will vote on today, intended to reduce U.S. troops in Iraq. It aims to begin the reduction, but leaves an unspecified limited presence of troops in Iraq by a deadline of April 1, 2008, a level…

even for those convinced the surge in Iraq is a mistake, the manner in which we implement a decision to leave that country is critical to our Nation. Therefore, any Congress mandating a new security policy through force of law owes a…

I remember being on the ground in Afghanistan 2 months after that war began. I had the opportunity during a very short period of time to see what needed to be done. I left, brought back an aircraft carrier battle group for that war. Then…

a little over 5 years ago I was on the ground in Afghanistan and then returned with an Aircraft Carrier Battle Group. I then took that Aircraft Carrier Battle Group into the Persian Gulf for the precursor operations just before we began…

With great respect to the Representative from Massachusetts, I'd be remiss not to say the following: I have seen in 31 years in our military, us be resisted throughout this world for the power of our economy and the power of our military…

a little over 5 years ago, I was in the war in Afghanistan, first on the ground for a very short period of time, and then I returned in charge of an aircraft carrier battle group. I saw a just war. Eighteen months later, I went back to…

as a husband, a father of a young daughter, the proud brother to 6 sisters, and having served alongside dedicated women in the military, I have seen first-hand the role that women play in economically strengthening American society. And…

Thank you for yielding. I wanted to also speak about Iraq and our U.S. security. I've always felt that Iraq is a tragic misadventure. I can remember being on the ground for just a short period of time, 2 months after the war in Afghanistan…

I commanded an aircraft carrier battle group of 30 ships off Afghanistan during the war from the Indian Ocean. We were told one day to take those 30 ships into the Persian Gulf, which some thought would be the running start to the Iraqi…

several days ago, I withdrew an amendment on an independent ethics commission, as the leadership discussed that imminently there would be something forthcoming. I grew up in the military, and I bring this point up, from the Vietnam days…

I have served this Nation in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. The first was a just war; the second was a tragic misadventure. After 31 years of military service, I ran for this office. I have never deviated from believing that a date…

having worn the cloth of this Nation for 31 years, I am at the point where I just needed to say that no one can call this war in Iraq Bush's war, for it is ours, America's war. We are in this together. We Democrats need the Republicans if…

I speak in support of this bill because it would change our strategy in Iraq towards the successful outcome, while ensuring that America will be more secure. It does so by providing, most importantly, a date certain by which we will not be…

we are at the point where no one should call the war in Iraq ``Bush's war.'' It is ours, America's war. We are in this together. We Democrats need the Republicans if we are to end it without a failed Iraqi state. It is not just about…

1 year ago, I retired from the U.S. Navy after 31 years in our military, serving our Nation during the challenges of peace and in the fury of war, including commanding an aircraft carrier battle group of 30 ships and 15,000 sailors in…