On the recordJune 15, 2016
My good friend, Mr. Poe, is a good friend and a great leader on these issues dealing with terrorism, but let me, sadly, join in opposition to this amendment. Over the years, I have worked with a number of persons in the Pakistani Government. But, in particular, I want to emphasize that the Pakistan military, over a period of years, has fought against terrorism and suffered a great treasure in the loss of their soldiers. I believe it is important that we continue to collaborate and, as my two colleagues have said, that we work extensively with oversight. We must be mindful that they do have nuclear capacity. I believe it is important that we are engaging and that we use these resources for them to maintain the security of these resources but, more importantly, to keep a collaboration with, in particular, their military operations which, overall, have been helpful in the war on terror. I oppose that reduction, and I thank the gentleman for offering his amendment. Mr. Chair, I rise to speak in support of En Bloc Amendment No. 1 to H.R. 5293, the Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2017. Mr. Chair, I want to thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky for shepherding this legislation to the floor and for their devotion to the men and women of the Armed Forces who risk their lives to keep our nation safe. Mr. Chair, I am pleased that the En Bloc Amendment includes two of my amendments that were made in order under the Rule.…
