I personally oppose raising the TRICARE fees for non-Medicare-eligible retirees.

We think the Pentagon needs to focus more on fixing TRICARE and less on trying to charge more for it.

We believe that a civilian-style plan is inappropriate for military service conditions.

I appreciate you bringing up the issue of the home of record and the difficulties that can be in providing services.

I am especially grateful that we will hear today from Ms. Margaret McCloud, a Gold Star Wife whose husband, Lieutenant Colonel Trane McCloud, was killed in action in Iraq.

We hope that you will be able to fix a glitch in the combat-related special compensation law that causes some to lose the pay that Congress meant for them.

Madam Chair, based on my review of the testimony submitted to us, the recommendations made by the various groups fall into two broad categories: one, those that are strictly policy issues that require little or no additional funding; and…

While fiscally more difficult, many of the proposals that will make an immediate and positive impact on our service members and their families fall into the latter category.

yesterday I spoke to some small business owners in South Carolina, including Betty Jackson at The Sunset Grill in West Columbia. They are concerned with the billions in spending some in Congress are proposing. They also know that we need…

Given the level of dissatisfaction with small arms found by the Center for Naval Analysis is the Army doing anything to generate a new requirement for a pistol or rifle?

Yesterday we witnessed an achievement of democracy, the peaceful transfer of power and welcoming our new President, Barack Obama. I want to congratulate President Obama and wish him well. I wish to thank President George W. Bush for his…

America's ally Israel remains under constant and frequent attack by Hamas. Noted columnist Charles Krauthammer recently revealed in a column in The Greenville News that Hamas has cruelly launched 6,464 rockets into Israel in the last 3…

this year we should work immediately to address the challenges facing our Nation. Recent job losses and a decline in the housing market have led many Americans to lose confidence in our economy. I am optimistic, however, that sound…

our energy policy is tied to our national security. When America is increasingly reliant on foreign sources of energy, we are increasingly influenced by foreign governments who may be hostile to our interests. Too many Democrats in…

Americans are speaking up about rising gas prices. The polls show that well over 60 to 70 percent of Americans support exploration of American oil and natural gas reserves, and we are seeing a vocal outpouring of disappointment in…

the continued rise in energy prices threatens our economy and our national security. There are unfriendly nations around the world that are reliant on the world's addiction to oil. Unstable leaders like Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez…

As cochair of the Bulgaria Caucus, I rise today to welcome Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev of the Republic of Bulgaria to Washington. Since the defeat of communism in Eastern Europe, Bulgaria has emerged as a dynamic democracy. The country…

Americans are puzzled; puzzled why gas prices have topped $4 per gallon and why House Democrats have done nothing. They are puzzled why America sits on an estimated untapped reserve of 175 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 1.1…

it has been 109 days since the Protect America Act expired and our intelligence community's ability to track our enemies was degraded. Foreign surveillance is an important part of our Nation's defense in the global war on terrorism. We…

Congress adjourned for Memorial Day having failed to pass an emergency troop funding bill that our military says is vital to successful operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, including pay for our brave men and women in uniform. Because the…

this majority has accumulated a number of broken promises since taking over the majority, but perhaps the most disappointing and painful for the American people has been their lack of a plan to lower gas prices and help American families…

last Saturday I had the honor of attending a memorial service celebrating the life of Sergeant First Class George Walter Koon. Sergeant Koon was a soldier of the United States Army Infantry during the Korean War. He was a POW murdered…

On May 14, the National Association of Realtors celebrated 100 years of support to Realtors and the communities in which they serve. The NAR consists of 1.3 million members from around the country who are working together to promote…

indeed, I would like to commend Chairman Miller and Congressman Barrow. I know that the intent is very positive to address a terrible tragedy that occurred in February at Port Wentworth with the Imperial refinery explosion. I do want to…

I would like to introduce appendix D, which are industries which may have combustible dust. And, indeed, Chairman Miller and myself are learning that there is a broad array of industries, dozens of them, that could be impacted by…