Richard Nugent

Mr. NUGENT

Mr. NUGENT. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 256 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. NUGENT. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. NUGENT. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. NUGENT. House Resolution 256 provides for House consideration of two separate pieces of legislation. The first of these bills is H.R. 1256, the Swap Jurisdiction Certainty Act, which will be considered for 1 hour, with time divided between the Committees on Financial Services and Agriculture, under a closed rule. Secondly, and the reason why I am so proud to be the sponsor of this rule, H. Res. 256 provides for 1 hour of general debate for this year's National Defense Authorization Act. The Rules Committee traditionally receives hundreds of amendments to the NDAA; and with just under 300 submitted by the end of the day yesterday, this year is no different. Therefore, as is the tradition for this bill, this first rule in the NDAA consideration process provides for general debate while a second will provide for consideration of the plethora of amendments we have before us. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have had the honor of helping craft this legislation for the past few months. As I think anybody can imagine, when you're talking about a bill that authorizes the Department of Defense, there is a lot to discuss and consider. That point was illustrated by our full committee markup in the Armed Services Committee last week, which started first thing Wednesday morning and went through to almost 3 a.m. on Thursday, 16 hours. We worked long and hard, and I'm proud of the product we've presented to this House for consideration. But for as much time and effort that we on the Committee on Armed Services put into the Defense Authorization Act, I know that other Members who don't serve on our committee will want to make their mark on this bill, too. To ensure that the House has an opportunity to really have a comprehensive, free-flowing debate on such an important topic, we've decided to break the rule for the Defense Authorization Act into two parts. That's why today's rule provides us with 1 hour of general debate time. It gets us started on the path to consideration. It also allows Members from both sides of the aisle to have a full discussion about the broader themes running through this base legislation. There are important debates, and the sooner we get them started, the better. But with nearly 300 amendments submitted to the National Defense Authorization Act, the truth is we on the Rules Committee couldn't give each and every amendment the full weight and consideration it deserves and produce a comprehensive rule that starts debate on the full bill and all amendments today. If something's worth doing, it's worth doing it right. Therefore, while the House works on the Swap Jurisdiction Certainty Act and starts general debate on the NDAA, we, on the Rules Committee, will return to the committee room and we'll continue to sift through all the amendments that Members have offered on this bill. We want to make sure the House has the opportunity to weigh in on each and every important issue in the NDAA. That's why we need to take our time. And once we have a full understanding of the amendments submitted to the committee, we'll come back with a second rule setting the universe of amendments for this legislation. I know that we all share the same commitment to making this a fair and collaborative process. Quite frankly, it's the spirit of cooperation and the knowledge that we're serving a common purpose that has been one of the most gratifying parts of serving on HASC to date. As Chairman McKeon said to the Rules Committee yesterday, we may disagree sometimes, but it doesn't mean we have to be disagreeable. We're able to put partisanship aside, and we know that our work directly impacts the life of each and every servicemember and his or her family in a personal and direct way. We're providing for the common defense, which is part of the Federal Government's most fundamental roles, part of our core mission, as I like to say. And if you want proof of how collaboratively we worked on this bill as a committee, you only need to look at the fact that we passed this bill out of committee 59-2. And as the father of three sons serving in the Army, I'm heartened to know that politics can be set aside when it comes down to making sure our troops are equipped with the tools that are required, funded at the levels they need, and trained for the mission at hand. This is an important time for our country and an important time for those members of the military who serve us every day. These young men and women put their lives on the line for us so we could be here today and debate the issues of the day. So they deserve our undivided attention and support when it comes to making sure that they have everything that they need, and there's no more essential role for our Federal Government, in my opinion, as to what we are doing today. H.R. 1960 fulfills the promise to our warfighters and to their loved ones. I'm proud of this rule, which gets us on the road towards considering and passing this essential bill. For that reason, I support the rule. I support the underlying pieces of legislation and look forward to coming back here tomorrow in the next step of getting the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 passed. I encourage all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the rule, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner).

Mr. NUGENT. I yield the gentleman an additional 2 minutes.

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I just want to make sure that everybody knows that there were almost 300 amendments that have been submitted, and they'll be discussed later today, and Mr. McGovern is a part of that process and will be discussing those amendments today. But I agree with both of my colleagues as it relates to sexual assault in the military. Having only been on Armed Services now for 6 months, I will tell you that I agree with Mr. McGovern, particularly as it relates to oversight. And I believe that this Congress should exhibit and utilize its oversight capacity to the fullest, especially as it relates to sexual assault within the military. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NUGENT. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. NUGENT. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NUGENT. I continue to reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NUGENT. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NUGENT. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NUGENT. I have none.

Mr. NUGENT. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I support this rule and encourage my colleagues to support it as well. It allows the House to take action on two different but very important pieces of legislation. It provides us with an opportunity to force the SEC and the CFTC to finally and jointly promulgate rules governing the U.S. institutions' use of swaps and other financial derivatives while accessing international markets. This action will help ensure that we have a vibrant financial system and that American companies can manage the risks while remaining competitive in an international market. Additionally, it begins our consideration on the National Defense Authorization Act, providing the House with an hour of general debate on programs that make up our Department of Defense. As a Member of Congress, as a three Blue Star parent, and as an American, I can think of nothing more important than providing our military the tools that they need to carry out their missions. These brave men and women put their lives on the line for our Nation each and every day. This legislation isn't a thank-you to the troops, it's our duty as citizens to acknowledge that we live in the land of the free only because of the service of the brave. Mr. Speaker, we've heard a lot of discussion here on the floor, particularly as it relates to Dodd-Frank. First of all, this does not repeal Dodd-Frank. If it were a vote for a repeal of Dodd-Frank, I'd vote for it, but it's not a repeal of Dodd-Frank. As a matter of fact, this piece of legislation, the Swap Act, was actually voice voted out of the Agriculture Committee, which has joint jurisdiction over this piece of legislation. It was voice voted. In the Committee on Financial Services, 100 percent of the Republicans and two-thirds of the Democrats voted for its passage, so it isn't exactly as one would hear the other side say. When we talk about open rules, I think one of the things that distinguishes this Congress versus the 111th Congress is that this is one of the most open Congresses in the 112th Congress versus the 111th, which had absolutely zero open rules. I will remind my colleagues of that just because, as we talk about this and move forward on both of these issues, it's important to know that we have an open rule coming up in which we have almost 300 amendments that we are going to be considering in the Rules Committee in just a short period of time with the NDAA. Lastly, I hear my colleagues talk about how for 25 years they have allowed sexual assault to go unabated. I can hardly stomach the fact that this body would allow that to happen over the last 25 years. As a former law enforcement officer, as one who vigorously prosecuted cases of sexual assault and rape, it should be no different for our armed services. That is where my good friend Mr. McGovern had mentioned the oversight of armed services and of this House to make sure that we hold people accountable; to make sure, as other Members have talked about, that members of our military are kept safe, and that those who would prey upon members of their own military unit will find swift justice so that nobody can say there is not justice in regards to the fact, if you commit a rape or a sexual assault in the military, that you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law; that we make sure that we have victim advocates for those who are assaulted, and that we have good investigators who focus on those types of crimes and have the forensics to back it up so you have a strong prosecution. I think that's what this NDAA bill is an attempt to do. I strongly support the bill and the underlying legislation. With that, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. NUGENT

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. NUGENT

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, as many of you know, this is National Police Week. Law enforcement officers throughout our country are gathered here in our Nation's Capital to remember those who have fallen in the line of duty. As a former sheriff and police officer, I couldn't be more proud to be part of this family. Unfortunately, last year, we lost 120 brave men and women, and this year we've already lost 41. When tragedy strikes, as it recently did in Boston, we're reminded of these officers' selfless courage. Yet we often forget that these men and women are at risk every time they report for duty. Every time they kiss a loved one good-bye, they never know if it's going to be for the last time. Day in and day out, they put their lives on the line to keep us--our communities, our towns, and our cities--safe. For this, we owe them a debt of gratitude. So in honor of these law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe, may we please have a moment of silence.

Mr. NUGENT

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the National Day of Prayer. On May 2nd, 2013, hundreds of people across Florida's eleventh district will come together to observe the 62nd annual National Day of Prayer. The call to prayer is a tradition as old as America itself. Our founding fathers were so firm in their belief in God that they frequently turned to prayer for blessing and in times of need. Thomas Jefferson believed that the God who gives us life also gives us liberty and that as Americans we must acknowledge his mercy and guidance. In 1952, Congress passed a resolution establishing an annual day of prayer. This resolution was later amended and signed by President Reagan to permanently establish the first Thursday of May as the National Day of Prayer. This day holds special meaning as it serves as an important reminder of the role faith has played, and continues to play, in our everyday lives. Therefore, I, Richard B. Nugent, Member of Congress representing the eleventh district of Florida, do hereby recognize the district's observance of the 62nd National Day of Prayer.

Mr. NUGENT

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor College of Central Florida men's basketball team for their heroic win in the NJCAA National Championship. On March 23, 2013, the College of Central Florida Patriots faced Northwest Florida State in the NJCAA national championship game. Early on, the Patriots built a 15-point lead and managed to fend off a late charge by their opponents to bring back the school's first ever national championship in men's basketball. During the game, Eugene McCrory scored 23 points and earned the Most Valuable Player award. Rasham Suarez also earned all-tournament honors for the school and Central Florida Coach Tim Ryan won the award for the tournament's best coach. The win makes the Patriots the third team from Florida to win the national championship and it is the first such win for a Florida team in almost twenty years. This historic win is a testament to what can be accomplished when sound leadership and hard work combine to pursue a specific goal. The win is a true credit to Coach Ryan and the entire CF community who rallied around these young men and helped them through till the final whistle. The team has made our community very proud and I know that it is a sign of more good things to come in the years ahead.

Mr. NUGENT

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.