Appointment of Conferees on H.R. 5122, G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007

APPOINTMENT OF CONFEREES ON H.R. 5122, G.V. ``SONNY'' MONTGOMERY NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007 -- (House of Representatives - September 07, 2006)

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Mr. BOYD. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from Texas. I won't take 3 minutes. But I will say this, Mr. Speaker, that any time you have a provision, a legislative proposal that saves in performing our legislative duties and our executive duties, saves the taxpayers money and also enables us to better serve those that we are serving in our communities, that is a plus. That is a win-win, as some have said.

That is exactly what this provision we are discussing that is in the Senate bill does. In this case, obviously, it will save Federal taxpayer money. And we all know the issues that exist today in our budgeting process. We have red ink throughout our future budgeting process as far as the eye can see. There is a structural deficit built into the budgeting process, which has been extended by this administration and this Congress.

So, in this case, we are helping those that are our military retirees, those who we have asked to put on the uniform and go into battle, and many of them come back wounded, injured, and then the taxpayer has responsibility for seeing that those folks are cared for the balance of their lives. This is not a new debate about military retirees and how we provide them medical services.

So if we can do a better job of that back home, and the Senate has a better idea in this case, then we should go to it. I think that is what we are asking the folks to do. We are saving money, and we are providing a better service, better quality services to the folks that we have asked to wear the uniform.

I thank the gentleman for bringing the motion to instruct.

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