William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry

I appreciate the leadership of the gentleman from New Jersey in all matters related to national security, as well as the leadership of the gentleman from Indiana. I also appreciate the gentleman from New Jersey's bringing this measure to…

The bottom line is you have to read the amendment and the words that are in it. The amendment says we can spend no money for any part of the Department of Defense pursuant to the AUMF after December 31, 2014. {time} 1600 Now, we can have a…

May I inquire as to how much time I have remaining? The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas has 1\1/4\ minutes remaining.

I claim the time in opposition to the amendment. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes.

In some ways I'm somewhat sympathetic to the hopes that underlie this amendment. I hope that terrorism has gone away by December 31, 2014. I hope that Zawahiri and the others responsible for 9/11 and those who authorized, committed, or…

I just point out to my colleagues, this House has voted 2 years in a row to update the AUMF so it does better reflect the way that al Qaeda has changed. We have included the exact language used by the Obama administration and the Bush…

I thank the gentleman from Indiana for yielding, and I thank the gentleman from Kansas for offering this amendment, because it helps focus on what concerns most Americans and it clarifies what really is and is not happening. Mr. Chairman…

Our guest chaplain today has been the pastor of Bible Baptist Church in Wichita Falls, Texas, for the past 20 years; but his ministry and passion for spreading the word of God has never been confined to the walls of any church building…

Cost is a red herring argument here. Does it cost more to keep a detainee in Guantanamo than a Federal prisoner here? Probably, but nothing like the figures that have been repeatedly cited on the other side. For example, if you look back…

I'm convinced that the arguments against missile defense are the same today that they were the day that President Reagan proposed it: you can't do it, it costs too much, and it's provocative to try. And it doesn't really matter how the…

I claim time in opposition. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes.

I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I would simply want to point out that Members have a variety of opinions about Afghanistan, and a number of Members have come to the floor to voice their opinion that we ought to leave…

I urge the committee to adopt the amendments en bloc, all of which have been examined by both the majority and the minority. I reserve the balance of my time.

As a designee of the chairman, and pursuant to H. Res. 260, I offer amendments en bloc. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendments en bloc. Amendments en bloc No. 4 consisting of amendment Nos. 64, 67, 69, 70, 72, 74, 77…

I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Chairman, in some ways I admire the gentleman from Minnesota because he states clearly what he believes. In my opinion, his argument, however, is dangerous, and it will mean a very much more dangerous world…

I appreciate the chairman yielding. I think the first thing that should be said is that it is a tremendous credit to the chairman and the ranking member that we are where we are today. It may be true that for 51 straight years a defense…

I offer the amendment made in order under the rule. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Add at the end the following: SEC. __. ADDITIONAL CONNECTIONS TO THE FEDERAL HELIUM…

Let me first commend and express my appreciation to Chairman Hastings and Mr. Holt and others who have worked on this legislation. Indeed, we have come a long way from the days when helium was essentially a government-run monopoly to this…

I thank both gentlemen, Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry). The amendment was agreed to.

I appreciate the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I've got to observe that I wish that all of the Members on both sides of the aisle who decry sequestration today had voted with those of us who passed bills twice last year to target…

It was the issue of taxes that led to me running for Congress in the first place. The question of how much of your money the government forces from us is central to the relationship of the individual with government and to the freedom of…

First, let me commend the chairman, the ranking member, and all the staff members for getting us here. Unfortunately, it is all too rare for the House to consider a bill with over 140 amendments on the floor here, have it passed, have a…

Today I am supporting H.R. 915, the Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act. This measure would establish Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) teams within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to facilitate…

It is unfortunate that the House must vote on whether to hold the Attorney General in contempt for refusing to produce documents in his Department. The underlying facts are disturbing and tragic, leading to the death of a Border Patrol…

My amendment would require the President to create a charter that codifies the formal establishment of an interagency body to coordinate and deconflict full-spectrum military cyber operations for the Federal Government. It supports and…