National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006 -- (House of Representatives - May 25, 2005)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Goode amendment. The terrorist attacks on our homeland highlighted the potential disastrous effects of porous borders and the need to bolster border security. While we continue to fight the war on terror overseas, we cannot neglect our homeland and must increase our efforts at fighting terrorism at home by controlling immigration and strengthening our borders.

The defense authorization bill we are considering today makes excellent progress in setting funding levels for our troops and staging the war on terror overseas, but cannot and should not neglect our borders here at home. The Goode amendment will protect terrorists, illegal immigrants, and drug traffickers from entering the country.

Mr. Chairman, border security cannot be taken too seriously. I urge my colleagues to support the Goode amendment so we can continue fighting terror in the streets of Baghdad and in the mountains of Afghanistan rather than in our cities and communities. We must increase our efforts at achieving closed borders with open, guarded doors.

The Goode amendment helps accomplish that goal and supplements the greater objectives of the national defense authorization bill we are considering today. Without the Goode amendment, the authorization bill is incomplete and its goals are unmet.

In fighting the war on terror overseas, we have made our Nation and indeed the whole world a much safer place. Let us make sure we continue to build on that historic progress by protecting our homeland and defending our borders, when necessary. Vote for the Goode amendment and for the passage of the defense authorization bill.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to the Davis amendment.

Military treatment centers which are dedicated to healing, nurturing and saving life should not be forced to facilitate the taking of the most innocent human life, the child in the womb. This amendment is a barely germane, blatant distraction from the important bill we are considering today.

The amendment would mandate that Federal dollars be used to fund abortions, and contradicts fundamental U.S. military values such as honor, courage, and taking responsibility for one's own actions.

Mr. Chairman, as stewards of hard-working Americans' tax dollars, we cannot ask our constituents to fund the killing of human life on our military installations.

Life does begin at conception, and it is sacred.

As Members of Congress, we should do all we can to protect life.

Instead, while we stand here today to fund our troops and protect our great Nation, opportunist Members of the Democratic Party are once again belittling and devaluing the sanctity of human life.

If this inappropriate amendment were adopted, not only would taxpayer-funded facilities be used to provide abortion on demand, but resources could be used to search for, hire, and transport new personnel simply so that abortions could be performed.

That is right. Instead of hiring new personnel to operate tanks, fly planes, fight insurgents, train coalition forces, treat troops and defend America, this amendment asks taxpayers to pay new personnel to perform abortions and kill human fetuses.

Mr. Chairman, that is despicable.

This amendment must be defeated so we can return to the meaningful consideration of the national defense authorization bill.

I urge my colleagues to join me in protecting human life by voting against the Davis amendment.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

http://thomas.loc.gov