[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 13160]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           PASSAGE OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss 
the National Defense Authorization Act and to call on Congress to come 
together and pass this important bill so that our troops have the 
support they need to succeed in the field and so that our military 
commanders and policymakers have the certainty they need to conduct our 
Nation's national security affairs.
  This year's NDAA has already been voted on by the House, passing with 
bipartisan support.
  In addition to keeping troops adequately equipped and trained, this 
year's legislation also includes a piece of legislation called the 
Medical Evaluation Parity for Service Members Act, or MEPS Act, which 
is a bill I introduced that will help our military move toward a more 
comprehensive and effective approach to suicide prevention and 
detection.
  While our military has made great strides to address issues of mental 
illness, it is tragic events such as those at Fort Hood that remind us 
we must do better.
  Madam Speaker, I am calling on the Senate to move forward on this 
legislation so that we can fulfill our commitment to those who serve in 
uniform. They deserve as much.

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