Providing for Further Consideration of H.R. National Defense

Floor Speech

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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith for yielding and for his steadfast leadership in equipping our Nation to face unprecedented challenges at home and abroad. I also thank Ranking Member Rogers for his role in bringing a bipartisan NDAA to the floor.

I rise in support of my amendment requiring a joint briefing from the Army and Air Force on the lack of a childcare center to serve Camp Bull Simons at Eglin Air Force Base.

After hearing the stories of families stationed there, it is clear we need to add transparency to a process that has left our servicemembers and their families behind.

These brave men and women make immense sacrifices to protect and serve our Nation. The least we can do is make sure that they do not have to stress about affordable and accessible childcare while deployed or on assignment.

Currently, the closest government-run CDC, a benefit our servicemembers are entitled to, would add an average of 4 hours per day to a parent's commute. The options that the services are proposing to remedy the situation for those families are wholly inadequate.

As chair of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, I understand the value of child development centers and quality-of-life issues for our servicemembers.

I offered this bipartisan amendment with my colleagues, Representatives Castor, Hudson, and Gaetz, to help find a solution that meets the standard of care that we must deliver for our military families.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for including this amendment in the en bloc.

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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of the en bloc amendments, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1224, I offer amendments en bloc.

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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, we have no further speakers, so I will urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1224, I offer amendments en bloc.
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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano).

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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from California.

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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Garcia).

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Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers.

Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of the en bloc package, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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