[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 18281-18282]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, we have a limited number of workdays 
between now and November, so we will obviously have to focus our 
priorities starting with the Defense authorization bill which the 
distinguished majority leader was just discussing, which is now before 
us. Among other things, the bill authorizes a much deserved pay raise 
for America's military men and women. Of course, an authorization bill 
only gets us halfway there. In order for this military pay raise to 
reach the families it is intended for, the Senate will need to pass an 
appropriations bill as well. So my suggestion is that we begin 
processing amendments to the Defense bill today, as the majority leader 
has indicated, starting with the first four amendments which will be 
voted on later today. We weren't, unfortunately, able to vote on any 
amendments yesterday. As everyone knows, the Defense bill is typically 
a heavily amended bill. It usually takes 2 or 3 weeks to complete, but 
it is my hope we can make some good forward

[[Page 18282]]

progress today. Kentucky is home to two major military installations 
and more than 357,000 veterans. They, and the rest of America's 
veterans, deserve our full attention.
  We have time but not a lot of time. Tomorrow, we will be taking some 
time out to remember the 9/11 attacks. Friday, we have an all-day 
energy summit. So let's use our time wisely. If we do, it is my hope we 
can work together and, with cooperation, finish this bill, at least 
early next week.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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