Mac Thornberry

Mr. THORNBERRY

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 30 seconds to note that there are 15 amendments in this en bloc package, 8 sponsored by Republicans and 7 by Democrats. There truly was bipartisan participation in formulating this package, and I hope all the sponsors of these 15 amendments will support this bill on final passage. I urge adoption of the en bloc, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Stefanik), a colleague on the Armed Services Committee who is also vice chair of the Subcommittee on Readiness.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hurd).

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased at this point to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost).

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, pursuant to House Resolution 260, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of the time. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentlewoman for offering this amendment and just mention to my colleagues that there are a number of provisions in the underlying bill that try to help encourage small businesses to participate with the Department of Defense because I completely agree with the statements that were made. That is where much of the innovation occurs in this country, and the bureaucracy, the difficulty in our acquisition system makes it very hard sometimes--many times--for small businesses to contribute. I think that idea and especially the small businesses targeted by the gentlewoman's amendment is appropriate. I hope, Mr. Chairman, that all Members, the supporters of this amendment and those who are concerned about small businesses having some greater opportunity to participate in Department of Defense procurement, will support not only this amendment, but also final passage of the bill because that is the only way that this amendment actually can become law. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. THORNBERRY. I appreciate the distinguished chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee for yielding. Mr. Chairman, it is in my district where this dismantlement occurs, and I think we are missing one key point, but Mr. Rogers raised it earlier. We have a limited number of facilities, a limited number of people, and a limited number of dollars. We can use them to take things apart, or we can use them to help modernize our existing stockpile so it can be more effective, so it can be safe, so it can be reliable in providing that nuclear deterrence that we depend upon. The concern is, based on what Secretary Kerry said 2 weeks ago, that this administration is going to put more money and people and facilities into taking things apart than they should. They have got their priorities wrong. This amendment or the underlying provision of the gentleman from Alabama tries to set those priorities straight, and that is what is important. We can't do everything. We have got to set priorities, and the priority ought to be defending the country, especially in light of what Russia and China continue to do: building nuclear weapons. I think this amendment should be rejected and the underlying provision supported.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time just to say I hope that all 16 Members who have amendments in this en bloc package will support this package as well as the logical conclusion of their efforts, which would be to support final passage of this legislation. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Ellmers).

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello).

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Zinke), a member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, pursuant to House Resolution 260, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. THORNBERRY. I fully agree that section 2667 of title 10 provides the Secretary of the Air Force the flexibility to enter into a lease with the Canaveral Port Authority. I further understand that such lease would be at full market value. So along with the gentleman, I look forward to hearing from the Secretary of the Air Force as to her determination on this particular case.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus).

Mr. THORNBERRY. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, at this point, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica) for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased at this point to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson).

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Katko).

Mr. THORNBERRY

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. THORNBERRY. I thank the gentleman for yielding, for I have tremendous respect for his opinion and for his service that bears directly on these issues. I share the gentleman's commitment to do everything we can to improve suicide rates, to have better care for those who serve, and I absolutely commit to work with the gentleman to get the best possible outcomes for those who serve. I know that is what the gentleman works for in all his capacities, and it is what the committee wants to work for, too.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. THORNBERRY

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 30 seconds. Mr. Chairman, I have enormous respect for the distinguished ranking member. I think, however, it is a very hard argument to make that we are going to oppose the bill that takes care of our men and women in the military because we want to try to pressure Congress and the President to reach an agreement on spending on other stuff. How could that possibly happen in this bill? It can't. That requires other legislation. I think that is a poor reason to oppose this bill. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman), my friend and colleague, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 1735.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers), the chair of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces.