Political Quotes

“I thank the chairman, Mr. Thornberry, and the committee for their diligent work on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this NDAA conference report. I applaud this bill's goal to improve the readiness level of our military which has been depleted of critical resources after many years of defending this country. Not only does this legislation begin to rebuild our forces, it includes a long overdue pay raise for our troops. I applaud the bill's reforms to improve the military healthcare system and make sure taxpayer resources are used appropriately. I especially want to highlight the current situation in Afghanistan, which needs drastic improvement. Shoring up Afghani security forces is only part of a short-term solution. We need a long-term strategy that brings stability to Afghanistan as well as the entire region. The NDAA directs Secretary Mattis to develop such a 5-year strategy. This is a good step, and I urge the military to continue thinking long term. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this report.”