Wouldn't it be nice if a Defense bill actually covered defense. We have China building islands in the South China Sea, the spread of ISIS in the Middle East, Russian aggression in the Ukraine and Iran spreading terrorism worldwide. But alas, we again fine a PORK laced bill. We needs planes and ships, aid for our Vets, more trained personnel and research into modern weapons.

One of the few constitutional authorities and responsibilities of the federal government is to protect us.

I am for this , with all combat jobs now being open to women, it only fair & equal that they register for the draft. While it would take a major conflict for a draft to be done; it hasn't been done since Vietnam , it would take a major attack possibly terrorist or similar for this to happen where a major mobilization to occur. I am for a mandatory service like Israel has where all citizens serve, too few serve today. All citizens should share in our defense if you are going to enjoy the benefits of freedom. I would grant few exemptions to people serving ; disability etc. rich and poor alike would serve no exception. 1% serving today is a disgrace, although we do have some of the best all volunteers.

I would like to see a portion of this money be appropriated toward improving the infrastructure of the Army National Guard. During my six years in the ARNG I was always in a state of suspended disbelief over the condition of our Armory's. When I was on Active Duty with both the Marine Corps and the Army, I never seen such a state of disrepair as what I did when I was in the ARNG. My Armory in particular would go for periods of time with no heating and cooling, or when it would rain heavily and the basement would often flood, then there was that time when the roof needed repairs and we literally had asbestos falling from the ceiling. This problem wasn't just endemic to our Armory, as it was with all the Armory's I ever visited. The same could be said with the Joint Maneuver Training Center's that we trained in for both our weekend and Annual Training's. I won't even bring up the conditions of the Joint Forces Training Center we underwent our Pre-Mobilization training in for four months before our deployment. Suffice to say though, we had it better in Afghanistan at our little Combat Outpost than we did there. We were an Infantry Battalion, so we were used to going without and making due with what we did have. When we did train we were always out in the field, either under a blazing hot sun in the summer, or the frigid snows of winter, regardless if we were sleeping in the rain or in the mud, there was still the expectation that when he maneuvered back to the barracks, that the showers would work, the toilets would flush and the food would always be hot.

It'll take years to repair the damage that the Obama administration has done... The military will need funding and this is all we can do under an administration that doesn't care about defense.

We seriously need, at this time in USA history, to RE-BUILD our MILITARY. We must protect our children's lives, their future, from those who openly swear to kill and destroy all of America!

Defense is our nations strongest attribute, it should remain that way.

Stop taking pay and benefits from troops to pay for pet projects and social experiments.