Rob Bishop: “I thank the gentleman from Florida. The underlying defense authorization bill is a good bill. This is a good rule with…”

“I thank the gentleman from Florida. The underlying defense authorization bill is a good bill. This is a good rule with maybe one caveat that there are too many amendments that are in here. Henry Clay, as the first Speaker of the House who went from the Senate over here and was elected Speaker on the first day and served as Speaker every day he served in the House, he is given credit for starting the standing committee process where people with expertise discuss all these issues before they actually come to the floor. Some of these amendments we have had have not gone through that process and will be given 10 minutes of debate time on the floor, which is rather small when you compare it to the process of each subcommittee on the Armed Services Committee: having established their bill, going to the full committee, with a full day of debate on the bill before it comes here. There is, for example, one amendment that is made in order, has a great sponsor, a wonderful Member of this body, but it has untold side consequences that probably need that experience of being explored. Let me give you a simple example. It starts with the words ``notwithstanding any other provision of law.'' That should be something that scares someone. It means this bill, except for section B, which it exempts, takes precedent over everything else that already exists in law, and not only for the military issue, but also in every element of Federal Government.…”