Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker as an original cosponsor of this resolution and a Representative of the Tidewater region of Virginia, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 279. I recently was honored to participate in the homecoming celebration of the USS Enterprise when it returned to Norfolk from its extended deployment in Afghanistan. These brave men sailed out of Norfolk in April and only just returned to their families, friends, and homes last month. They were given a true hero's welcome by their loved ones, their extended Naval family in Norfolk, and even their Commander-in-Chief. We were and are extraordinarily proud of their service and dedication, particularly in this time of war. When it was first christened at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in 1960, the Enterprise had an impressive history to live up to. Its namesake was a highly decorated, World War II veteran that had participated in the Battle of Midway and Doolittle's raid on Tokyo. As the world's first and finest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, this Enterprise has done its namesake proud. The Enterprise Battle Group was among the first of the American fleet to participate in the new war on terrorism. And, should they be called to duty again in this war, I am certain that they will serve again with distinction. In the coming days, we will vote on the Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2002. This legislation includes a much-deserved pay raise for these sailors and other servicemembers.”