[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6954]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  DEFENSE AND VETERANS APPROPRIATIONS

  (Mr. FORTENBERRY asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, America wants Congress to get things 
done, and lately that's been pretty tough. A deep philosophical divide 
often separates us, but there are certain things that have to get done. 
The military has to protect our country, and America has to care for 
her veterans.
  While Congress is stuck in many areas, both parties this morning took 
a unified step forward in defense of our country and in service to our 
veterans. Mr. Speaker, in a small hearing room right below here, the 
Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations Committee said 
``yes'' in a bipartisan manner to meet our Defense Department 
infrastructure needs and to properly care for our veterans.
  The bill spends a little less than the President asked for and a 
little more than last year. Projects not justified are removed, others 
are properly funded. The bill also compels both the Department of 
Defense and Veterans Affairs to use a single integrated electronic 
health record, ensuring a seamless transition of care for our 
warfighters leaving service.
  Mr. Speaker, this morning we got to a ``yes'' on that which is 
essential and right.

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