Mac Thornberry Opens Defense Authorization Floor Debate

House Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) opened general debate on the fiscal 2017 national defense authorization. Calling it the product of difficult choices, Thornberry calls the bill good for the troops, good for the country and is faithful to the constitutional responsibilities that we have on our shoulders to provide for the military of the united states and defend the country. Thornberry says the committee started with about 2,000 legislative provisions before a committee markup that lasted about 16 hours and considered 248 amendments. Thornberry says there are severe readiness problems today in the united states military, that for example the Air Force are cannibalizing some aircraft just to keep other aircraft flying, mentioning a budget fight with the Obama Administration that the year before saw military funding used as a hostage to get more domestic funding and a first ever veto.