National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007 -- (House of Representatives - May 11, 2006)

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Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our chairman, and I want to talk to the Members here to sadly inform them that our friend, Sonny Montgomery is struggling in the last moments of his life. And I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member, Mr. Skelton from Missouri, for very appropriately and very fittingly naming this the G.V. ``Sonny'' Montgomery Defense Authorization Bill.

As you all know, Sonny Montgomery served in Congress for 30 years. For 14 years he was chairman of the Veterans Committee. His name and his legacy and his service are very rich and very deep, as he passed the G.V. ``Sonny'' Montgomery GI bill.

If you go back home to Mississippi, you see the G.V. ``Sonny'' Montgomery VA Hospital and National Guard complex. He was Mr. Veteran and he was Mr. National Guard, and he contributed greatly to the force that we have today and to the men and women who serve; and most importantly, he was an example to all of us of the best of this institution of civility, of common ground, of bipartisanship, of supporting the men and women that serve in our Nation's military.

He has been my friend, and he has been my example. And so, Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for naming this the G.V. ``Sonny'' Montgomery Defense Authorization Bill.

Mr. Speaker, he was also the spiritual leader of the House, always calling us to prayer and to remember those in need, those that were sick, and those that were facing challenges. Mr. Speaker, I ask this body to pray for Sonny Montgomery. May God have mercy on him, his life, and his legacy.

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