Political Quotes

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your successful leadership of peace through strength. The conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act provides our warfighters, veterans, and military families the care and support they deserve and have earned. Specifically, the conference report will authorize a true pay increase of 1.7 percent, limit end- strength reductions for the active Army and Marine Corps, provide significant new regulations and procedures for combating sexual assault, extend access to family housing and commissary-exchange benefits for troops who are involuntarily separated, and control the rate of co-pay increases for TRICARE. From the beginning, the military personnel provisions have resulted from a bipartisan process. I want to thank subcommittee ranking member, Congresswoman Susan Davis, for her contributions. Additionally, I appreciate the dedication of the staff: John Chapla, Debra Wada, Jeanette James, Craig Greene, and Jim Weiss, along with military legislative assistant Chad Sydnor and military Fellow, Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant Michelle King. I also want to note the contributions of Michael Higgins, who is a retiring subcommittee staffer and true professional who has devoted 23 years of service to the committee after severing 20 years in the Air Force. Mike has made a positive difference on behalf of servicemembers, military families, and veterans. I urge my colleagues to support the conference report. Mr.…”