Buck McKeon

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I hope you appreciate my weak attempt at humor.

Mr. McKEON. I would like to start off first by acknowledging the longstanding work that Chairman Royce has done on this issue. The gentleman from California spelled out the growing links between poaching and terrorist groups in Africa. I share his concern. He is also correct that AFRICOM is continuing to engage with our African partners in a variety of ways. Under Chairman Royce's leadership, I understand that the Foreign Affairs Committee will be continuing to look into illegal wildlife trafficking in Africa and the national security consequences. I fully support that effort. I believe that we should seek a greater understanding of the linkages between these illicit activities and find an interagency approach to counter this threat. The U.S. military has a role to play in countering terrorist groups and their networks that would target our national interests in this region. So I look forward to our two committees continuing to work together.

Mr. McKEON. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. McKEON. Thank you very much. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of that time. Just an hour ago, the President confirmed chemical weapons, including sarin gas, have been used by the Assad regime against Syrian civilians. The President has stated that a red line has been crossed. But I would observe that red lines are meaningless unless they are backed by action. The underlying bill reflects a sense of Congress that any red line should be backed with substantive measures. The White House stated this evening that President Obama agrees with this sentiment. Tonight, representatives of the National Security Council stated: The President has made the decision to support Syrian opposition. That includes military support. I expect to see more details in the coming days from the White House and the Department of Defense. I am, however, deeply concerned about our ability to honor and uphold red lines. Our military readiness and our ability to respond is degraded today. Seventeen combat coded Air Force squadrons are grounded due to budget cuts. A carrier battle group should be in the Middle East, but instead is in port. We just pulled the last A-10 ground attack squadron out of Germany because some felt that a forward- operating presence was unnecessary for a so-called Cold War mission. Yet we have an amendment here this evening that would cut $5 billion that, in addition to funding the troops in Afghanistan, provides support to help alleviate deep readiness problems that are porting our ships and grounding our fighter jets. Another amendment this evening would strike the very sense of Congress that all courses of action, not just military, should be considered in Syria and that our red lines must have meaning. Reality has overwhelmed both of these proposals. To my friends who think there is no risk to ever-deeper cuts, I ask you to tell that to the airman and the sailor who may well face down Syrian missiles in the coming weeks. To my friends who are contemplating further cuts when they vote tomorrow, consider that you may be denying that warfighter the hour of training or the piece of hardware that means the difference between life and death. None of us is comfortable in putting them into harm's way at this time, or in that place; but that does not mean that they may not have to go. And that does not mean we shouldn't give them all they need. Here Congress and the White House agree in principle. Boundaries are useless unless they are enforced and resourced. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McKEON. I rise to claim time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, at this time, I yield 3 minutes to my friend and colleague, the chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers).

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).

Mr. McKEON. I rise to claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, at this time I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to my friend and colleague, the gentlelady from Indiana (Mrs. Walorski).

Mr. McKEON. Madam Chair, at this time, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).

Mr. McKEON. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McKEON. Madam Chairman, pursuant to H. Res. 260, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. McKEON. Madam Chair, I urge the committee to adopt the amendments en bloc, all of which have been examined by the majority and the minority. At this time I yield 2 minutes to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly).

Mr. McKEON. Madam Chair, at this time, we have no further speakers.

Mr. McKEON. Madam Chair, I ask that all of our colleagues support this group of en bloc amendments, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McKEON. Madam Chairman, pursuant to H. Res. 260, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. McKEON. Madam Chair, I urge the committee to adopt the amendments en bloc, all of which have been examined by both the majority and the minority. At this time, I yield 2 minutes to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey).

Mr. McKEON. Madam Chair, at this time I yield 2 minutes to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Bridenstine).

Mr. McKEON. How much time do we have left?

Mr. McKEON. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Broun).

Mr. McKEON. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to my good friend from Georgia, Dr. Phil Gingrey.

Mr. McKEON. I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman.

Mr. McKEON. We have no further speakers.