Louie Gohmert: “Tonight, one of the things we did was to take up the National Defense Authorization Act. It was to extend the power of…”

“Tonight, one of the things we did was to take up the National Defense Authorization Act. It was to extend the power of the President. There were some good things in it. I applaud the inclusion of the conscience exception that would allow members of the military to do as members of the military have done throughout our history--be able to have, for example, a Bible on a desk, which are things that now have begun to result in persecution--and, actually, knocks against the military--things that our greatest Commander in the history of our country, George Washington, felt were noble things. Under this administration's watch, these things have now begun to result in persecution. When you go back to the bill, the Authorization for Use of Military Force, that was passed on September 18, 2001, when the United States did not even know who had attacked us, it is incredible. I don't fault the legislature at the time, the Congress--the House and the Senate. Americans were scared. Churches and synagogues were packed all over America. I have never seen anything like it in my lifetime the way people especially flocked to churches and were praying fervently. Then after there was not another attack within 90 days, it was as if Americans began to say, Never mind, God. We don't have to worry about that because we haven't been attacked again. The NDAA is basically added to the Authorization for Use of Military Force against September 11 terrorists. That is the name of it.…”