Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, this resolution provides a standard conference report rule and other end-of-the-year housekeeping provisions. H.R. 1540, the National Defense Authorization Act for 2012, has been considered in committee. It was debated on the House floor. It included 152 amendments made in order before passing this Chamber, and that was done in May with an overwhelming and bipartisan majority. It went through the Senate. And now we bring to you today a bipartisan conference report. I have to commend the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), as well as the ranking member, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith), for truly continuing the tradition of bipartisanship and mutual cooperation in the Armed Services Committee and in this particular bill. There are some times when Congress has a reputation of being somewhat contentious and partisan, sometimes deservedly so. However, I have been a member of the Armed Services Committee myself for several years, and I recognize that they clearly understand Article I of the Constitution, which requires a common defense of our country; and in that particular committee, partisanship really has been checked at the door regarding the product of the Armed Services Committee, which is this annual Defense authorization bill.…”