Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, we stand here today 7 months after the House passed its version of the 2011 defense authorization bill because the leadership of the other body dithered instead of doing the right thing for all members of our armed services. As a result, the Senate has not passed its version of the defense authorization. Then in a last minute rush to get a defense bill, any defense bill, we stand on the floor today to debate for 40 minutes under suspension of the rules a 900-page bill, a $600 billion measure that is a stripped down, weakened version of what the House enacted in May. We may hear some good things about the bill, but let me remind Members that this rush to have a bill has cost the men and women in uniform. This bill is stripping out key House provisions in the name of expediency. It falls short in many ways. This bill is named in honor of Chairman Ike Skelton who has devoted years of dedicated service to the men and women of the Armed Forces. I want to say thank you to Chairman Skelton for his unwavering commitment to the House of Representatives, to the Committee on Armed Services, and to every man and woman who is serving in uniform now and for the past 35 years. Regretfully, this bill which he heavily influenced through passage in the House does not fully reflect his lifelong commitment and dedication. Despite the omissions in the bill, I will reluctantly urge Members to support the bill.”