William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry

Again, I appreciate the importance that the gentleman places on securing nuclear material. I share his view. I still am very concerned, for example, that terrorists will obtain--and we know they would use--nuclear material if they have the…

This additional en bloc package No. 4 consists of a number of amendments that have been worked with both sides of the aisle. I believe that this en bloc package deserves the support of all Members. I reserve the balance of my time.

I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern). Mr. McGOVERN. I thank the chairman for his graciousness. Mr. Chair, I rise in favor of the McGovern-Pompeo amendment, which is part of this en…

Each of these amendments in this en bloc package has been worked on both sides of the aisle. I believe this package deserves Members' support. I reserve the balance of my time.

Each of these amendments have been coordinated with both sides of the aisle. I urge Members to support this en bloc package. I reserve the balance of my time.

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, the gentlewoman makes the point very well that, at a certain point, you get enough people that the institution of the National Security Council staff takes on different characteristics…

I have no further speakers. I urge adoption of the en bloc package. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry). The en bloc…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: At the end of subtitle B of title IX, add the following new section: SEC. 9__. REFORM OF NATIONAL SECURITY…

I have an amendment at the desk. The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 727, line 5, insert after ``may'' the following: ``, as specified in advance by appropriations Acts,''. The…

I ask that the following exchange of letters be submitted on H.R. 4909: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, April 28, 2016. Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry, Chairman, Committee on…

I appreciate the opportunity to offer this amendment, which I do not believe is controversial. Mr. Chairman, one of the many parts of this bill, on which Members on both sides of the aisle have contributed, is to try to improve our…

I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities.

I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Forbes), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces.

I would inform the gentleman that I have no speakers on this amendment at this point, so I reserve the balance of my time.

I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), the distinguished majority leader. Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I want to take one moment. Very seldom do we see a bill of…

I urge adoption of the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry). The en bloc amendments were agreed to. {time} 1815…

I would inform the gentleman that I have no further speakers and am prepared to close on this side if the gentleman is.

I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner), the subcommittee chairman on Tactical Air and Land Forces.

These amendments have been worked out with the minority. I believe that they should be acceptable to all Members. I reserve the balance of my time.

We must have a credible nuclear deterrent. We must have missile defense.

American national security cannot focus just on the Middle East or Africa or Europe; there are real and growing threats facing us in Asia as well.

Only together can we ensure that this vital region of the world continues to be an economic engine and continue--and will have peace and stability in the future.

It seems in some ways we have a contradiction for Afghanistan. It was known as the good war, and yet at least some in the White House are unwilling to allow the military to take the steps to actually be successful.

Technology and threats are both evolving very rapidly. Our own acquisition system too often undermines our ability to get the warfighter what he or she needs to meet and counter those threats.

The committee begins 2016 continuing to focus our attention on defense reform to help ensure that the U.S. military is agile enough to meet the extraordinary demands of a complex, dangerous, rapidly changing world.