On the recordJune 2, 2011
I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, it's my privilege to lay out tonight for the House for consideration the appropriations bill for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and my good friend, Mr. Sanford Bishop of Georgia, we have worked together arm in arm in this committee to make sure that our men and women in uniform have everything they need to do their job. We on this committee think of our job as sort of we are the peace of mind committee for the United States military and for our veterans. We have an obligation--this Congress, this government--has an obligation, first and foremost, to provide for national security, to make sure that our men and women in uniform, not only here at home, but overseas have everything they need to do their job. The scope of our appropriations bill today includes construction, of course, of all the military bases here and overseas. We have fully funded in this bill all the requests of the branches of the military for our men and women in uniform on active duty. We've made sure that all the retired men and women who have served this Nation have everything they need when it comes to the veterans hospitals, the Department of Veterans Affairs. We are laying before the House tonight this funding bill as a part of our Nation's--I like to also think of it as part of our Nation's mortgage payment.…
