Memorial Day: Remember Our Fallen Heroes

Statement

Memorial Day: Remember Our Fallen Heroes

Often, in our daily routines we get consumed with our jobs, chores, and running from appointment to appointment. This can cause any of us to fall into the trap of taking our freedoms for granted and to forget about the heavy price that has been paid by our military to protect those freedoms.

On Memorial Day, however, we should stop for a moment and reflect on the sacrifices made by the thousands of men and women, and their families, who have defended our freedoms. As we remember our fallen heroes, we should also remember it is a day to evoke a powerful pride in our military men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice, for the life of a fallen soldier is a life well-lived.

Memorial Day serves as a day of remembrance for these fallen soldiers. These heroes served the nation on the fields of Gettysburg, on the islands of the South Pacific, the jungles of Vietnam, the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq. These heroes served the nation as the United States military helped bring the warm light of freedom to the people of South Korea, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. In all of these instances, it is the service of our military that has worked to bring peace to these once war-torn countries.

Earlier today, I attended the 9th Annual Memorial Day Service at the Lubbock Cemetery. As we continue on throughout this Memorial Day and the days ahead, let us remember the men and women who fought and died for our freedom, not in a mournful way, but in prideful way. For they have paid the full price for our peace and security. For, indeed, theirs are lives well-lived, and the United States a nation well-served.

Defense Reauthorization Act of 2012

Last week, the House voted on the Defense Authorization for 2012. This bill contains language which acknowledges the importance of the B-1 bomber by requiring the Air Force to maintain the size of the combat fleet, and only allow the retirement of six backup aircraft. I am particularly pleased that this bill also included a retirement freeze of any B-1 bombers for at least the next six years. While there are no guarantees that this language will ultimately become law, this legislation sends a strong message of support for the importance of the B-1 bomber as this process moves forward.

It will also allocate a total of $690 billion to our troops deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the world so they have the equipment, resources, training and time needed to successfully complete their missions.

In addition to military pay and troop funding, the defense reauthorization bill also prohibits the Pentagon from implementing a repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell without the approval of all four of the Service Chiefs, and bars funding from being used to transfer or release detainees in GITMO into the United States.

First Vote on the Debt Ceiling

This week, the House will vote on an increase to the debt ceiling with no spending cuts. I will not vote for this bill because I oppose a simple increase of the debt ceiling that does not also address the serious spending problem our nation faces. I will not vote to allow the federal government to continue spending at the current rate; it must be tied to broad spending cuts that will significantly reduce both current and long-term spending. If we continue down today's fiscal path, America will become more dependent on foreign debt which will equate to less autonomy in how we govern ourselves.

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