Mac Thornberry

Mr. THORNBERRY

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), our Republican leader.

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

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

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I have no further speakers on this en bloc package, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chair, I have no speakers here at this time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, the last speaker made a comment that this is the first time in many years that House Democrats have an opportunity to put their priorities on a defense bill. I realize the gentleman is new to this body, but that statement is simply not true. Last year, the House Armed Services Committee reported the bill to the floor by a vote of 60-2. There were more Democratic amendments made in order under the Rules Committee last year on the floor than there were Republican amendments. The bill passed the House with 351 votes. It has been a hallmark of the Armed Services Committee to work in a collaborative way and to give every member of the committee and, ultimately, of the House the opportunity to make an imprint on the nature of this bill. The reason I have to take a moment is just to contrast that with what has happened this year. Both the vote coming out of committee and the fact that of the contested amendments--in other words, of those amendments where there was some disagreement, some debate, and a potential vote. There were about 60 Democratic amendments, and there was exactly one Republican amendment. That limits the ability of the minority to shape the outcome of the final bill. So the gentleman's statement has led me to want to emphasize the difference this year versus prior years. I think it is too bad, but I hope that at some point in this process, we can return to that collaborative process. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the comments of Chairman Smith about the bipartisan contributions in the past, and that was the primary point I wanted to make. I do disagree with him about one key point. It was certainly never my intention, and I do not believe the intention of any member of the Armed Services Committee, to oppose this bill from the beginning. As a matter of fact, as I indicated yesterday, for many of us, it was a very challenging decision on how to vote with the bill coming out of committee, not because there weren't serious, substantive disagreements--there were--but there was hope that it was possible to bridge those disagreements so that there could be some bend on both sides to get to our traditional sort of bipartisan vote on the floor. What definitely changed and is unprecedented is to have one substantive, contested Republican amendment allowed on the floor--one-- versus 60 Democratic amendments. Those numbers speak for themselves. There has been, other than the one amendment on low yield--Mr. Turner yet to come--no other opportunity by Republicans on a contested issue. There have been en blocs, Republican and Democratic, absolutely. That is the way it is every year. But as far as standalone debates where it is contested, there has been one opportunity for Republicans to improve this bill. That has been disheartening because it makes it much more difficult for people on this side of the aisle to get to where we can support this bill. I share the chairman's commitment. This is not about us. This is about the troops. Our commitment is to work through every step of whatever it takes to get to a point that we can do good by the men and women who serve. That is the objective here. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chair, I have no further speakers at this time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Chair, I have no speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry).

Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Chair, I have no further speakers at this point, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Chair, I have no speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Chair, I have no speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Spano).

Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Chair, I have no speakers at this time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Chair, I have no speakers at this time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul), the distinguished ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.