Rep. Ike Skelton Holds a Markup of Pending Defense Authorization and Shipbuilding-Aviation Legislation

Political Transcript Wire › October 07, 2009

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Rep. Ike Skelton Holds a Markup of Pending Defense Authorization and Shipbuilding-Aviation Legislation

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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES HOLDS A MARKUP OF PENDING DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION AND SHIPBUILDING-AVIATION LEGISLATION

JUNE 16, 2009

SPEAKERS: REP. IKE SKELTON, D-MO. CHAIRMAN REP. JOHN M. SPRATT JR., D-S.C. REP. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ, D-TEXAS REP. GENE TAYLOR, D-MISS. REP. NEIL ABERCROMBIE, D-HAWAII REP. SILVESTRE REYES, D-TEXAS REP. VIC SNYDER, D-ARK. REP. ADAM SMITH, D-WASH. REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ, D-CALIF. REP. MIKE MCINTYRE, D-N.C. REP. ELLEN O. TAUSCHER, D-CALIF. REP. ROBERT A. BRADY, D-PA. REP. ROBERT E. ANDREWS, D-N.J. REP. SUSAN A. DAVIS, D-CALIF. REP. JIM LANGEVIN, D-R.I. REP. RICK LARSEN, D-WASH. REP. JIM COOPER, D-TENN. REP. JIM MARSHALL, D-GA. DEL. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO, D-GUAM REP. BRAD ELLSWORTH, D-IND. REP. PATRICK J. MURPHY, D-PA. REP. HANK JOHNSON, D-GA. REP. CAROL SHEA-PORTER, D-N.H. REP. JOE COURTNEY, D-CONN. REP. DAVE LOEBSACK, D-IOWA REP. JOE SESTAK, D-PA. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, D-ARIZ. REP. NIKI TSONGAS, D-MASS. REP. GLENN G. NYE III, D-VA. REP. CHELLIE PINGREE, D-MAINE REP. LARRY KISSELL, D-N.C. REP. MARTIN HEINRICH, D-N.M. REP. FRANK M. KRATOVIL JR., D-MD. REP. ERIC MASSA, D-N.Y. REP. BOBBY BRIGHT, D-ALA. REP. SCOTT MURPHY, D-N.Y. REP. DAN BOREN, D-OKLA.

REP. HOWARD P. "BUCK" MCKEON, R-CALIF. RANKING MEMBER REP. ROSCOE G. BARTLETT, R-MD. REP. WILLIAM M. "MAC" THORNBERRY, R-TEXAS REP. WALTER B. JONES, R-N.C. REP. TODD AKIN, R-MO. REP. J. RANDY FORBES, R-VA. REP. JEFF MILLER, R-FLA. REP. JOE WILSON, R-S.C. REP. FRANK A. LOBIONDO, R-N.J. REP. ROB BISHOP, R-UTAH REP. MICHAEL R. TURNER, R-OHIO REP. JOHN KLINE, R-MINN. REP. MIKE D. ROGERS, R-ALA. REP. TRENT FRANKS, R-ARIZ. REP. BILL SHUSTER, R-PA. REP. CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS, R-WASH. REP. K. MICHAEL CONAWAY, R-TEXAS REP. DOUG LAMBORN, R-COLO REP. ROB WITTMAN, R-VA. REP. TOM ROONEY, R-FLA. REP. MARY FALLIN, R-OKLA. REP. MIKE COFFMAN, R-COLO. REP. DUNCAN D. HUNTER, R-CALIF. REP. JOHN FLEMING, R-LA. REP. TODD R. PLATTS, R-PA.

DOUG ROACH, PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBER

[*] SKELTON: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to today's markup, H.R. 2647, the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2010. This work product has many hands and many hours and many days, and every member has contributed to this product, and we thank you for it.

First, a few comments that need to be made. Our departing member, Ranking Member John McHugh is leaving, and as you know, he is going across a river and will soon be the secretary of the Army. I'm saddened to see him leave, but on the other hand, the United States Army will be in good hands, and he will continue to serve our nation in a very important position, I know we will see a great deal of him on the other side of the table in the days ahead.

The new ranking member, one of the most decent man I've ever known, Buck McKeon, from the great state of California. Doug has represented the 25th district since 1992. He has been on this committee since 1995, a tireless advocate for men and women of our military, and he has a good number of military installations in his district.

And we certainly wish him the very best. We look forward working with him. He has a lovely wife, Patricia. And that will keep him on the very straight and narrow, and we all look forward to his work and his election as ranking member.

Buck, we welcome you to the Armed Services in this prestigious position.

Taking his place will be Todd Platts from Pennsylvania's 19th district, which includes several military installations. Todd will be joining us here for the first time shortly. We look forward to working with him. I have worked with him on previous occasions regarding the Army War College, and I know he will continue his interest and his hard work here.

To a very special person who will be leaving us and going to the State Department very, very soon, Ellen Tauscher, stalwart champion of the troops, expert in strategic weapons and missile defense. She will be sorely missed. She has been a fantastic contribution to the Congress of the United States, to our ...

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