[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 116 (Thursday, September 23, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H7450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THE NEED TO APPOINT HOUSE CONFEREES TO DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL

  (Mrs. DAVIS of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment 
to express my concern about House and Senate conferencing on the 
Defense authorization bill for fiscal year 2005. I am concerned that 
the House has not appointed any conferees to the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, the House passed the Defense Authorization Bill on May 
20 of 2004, and the Senate passed their version on June 23. Fast 
forward 3 months to today. It is now September 23. Next week marks the 
end of the fiscal year, and the House will adjourn for the elections in 
less than a month.
  I would also like to remind all of us, Mr. Speaker, that the House 
and Senate finished the conference report agreement on the fiscal year 
Defense appropriations bill in July.
  The reason for my concern should be obvious to all of us. Our country 
is at war. Large numbers of brave men and women remain in harm's way in 
Iraq and Afghanistan. I recognize there are contentious issues in both 
of the versions of the bill, but confronting these types of issues is 
our job, and we are quickly running out of time.
  The bill is a life-and-death matter. It impacts service members' 
safety, their readiness and personal and financial health. More than 
anyone else, they have earned the right to a government that is a 
responsible steward of their safety and their well-being.

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