Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this amendment, and I thank the gentleman from Alabama for the time. The amendment I speak of comes after many years of experiencing well- documented U.S. Navy maintenance backlogs and deficiencies and much- needed naval upgrades. These backlogs and deficiencies seriously inhibit our force-in-readiness and operational capabilities. Our military needs to be the readiest it can be in order to meet the challenges of the future, and this amendment will help do that. Shipyards across the country are ready, willing, and able to support the maintenance and upgrade requirements needed by our naval assets, including one in Superior, Wisconsin, in my congressional district. These non-homeport shipyards can support vital surge capacity, addressing maintenance needs that cannot always be addressed in a timely fashion at homeports. This change will also support good family- wage jobs across the country. Mr. Speaker, I am really pleased to have worked with Representative Stauber just across the border on this amendment. It is so important. By utilizing those people who work in the twin ports of Superior and Duluth, with their exceptional workmanship that they provide for shipbuilding on the Great Lakes, I think this makes this amendment very worthy.”