John Spratt: “when I spoke in favor of sustaining the President's veto of this bill, I said that 1 week of earnest negotiation could…”

“when I spoke in favor of sustaining the President's veto of this bill, I said that 1 week of earnest negotiation could produce an acceptable bill. I want to give credit to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. They were flexible on the three issues most opposed by the administration. We now have a bill I think which on balance is worthy of support. I congratulate my friend and my colleague, the gentleman from South Carolina [Mr. Spence], for navigating this difficult bill through a difficult conference. I am happy with the pay raise, with the increased housing allowances. I think all Members of this House should be, and I am hopeful that these payments will not be any longer delayed. I am pleased, too, to see that there are provisions here that will ensure that there is a timely COLA for military retirees. They earned it; they are entitled to it. So I will vote for this conference report and I will encourage my colleagues to do the same. But I do have concerns that I want to express. I am concerned that this bill is not the long-term blueprint for the defense budget which we need. I want to sound a friendly caveat to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. If we do not discipline the add-ons in the next defense bill more diligently, we have a train wreck coming just down the track.…”