On the recordNovember 28, 2011
I rise as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Personnel of the Armed Services Committee to speak on our bill. I would like to begin my comments on this national defense authorization by saying what a privilege and an honor it has been to work with Chairman Levin and Senator McCain. I say this as someone who spent 4 years as a committee counsel in another era and then another 5 years in the Pentagon, 4 of them as Assistant Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of the Navy working with the Congress, and finally as a Member of the Senate. I believe Chairman Levin is the epitome of what a chairman, a full committee chairman of the Senate should be. I have known Senator McCain for many years. As one would expect, we have not agreed on some political issues. But I have also enormous regard for Senator McCain as well. I would like to also thank members of the Personnel Subcommittee, especially the ranking member, Senator Graham, for the work they have done in preparing this legislation. I would also like to thank our staff: Gary Leeling, John Clark, and Brie Fahrer for all of the hard work they have done in order to bring this bill forward. Members of the Personnel Subcommittee, as well as our colleagues on the full committee, have worked together in a collaborative way to improve the quality of life of our men and women in uniform and of their families.…
