mr. barber: thank you, madam speaker. i'm offering this amendment to improve this legislation and truly show this chamber's support for our veterans and men and women in uniform. by preventing their pay and services from being impacted by a potential government shutdown next year. the underlying bill we're voting on today lacks key provisions that are needed to protect our veterans and active duty military. my amendment will add these provisions. my amendment will ensure that our patriotic men and women are not victims of partisan gridlock. my amendment ensures that basic military pay will not be interrupted in a potential shutdown. my amendment guarantees that our armed forces will be paid for the entire year, not just the six-month duration authorized by this continuing resolution. unfortunately, congress has failed to do its job, and we cannot allow a government shutdown to impact the basic pay of our men and women in uniform. this is a guarantee and assurance that they have the right to expect we will uphold no matter

mr. barber. >> thank you, mr. chairman, i apologize for being late. i just got back from a hearing on fast and furious which is important to my region where agent terry was killed. first question for secretary hale, when we discussed sequesteration at the last committee meeting, i said at that time that the lack of action on this important issue is really a failure on our part and others on getting the fiscal house tomorrow. we'll vote tomorrow, and if we're against it, we should stay here and not go home, worry less about our contracts and our constituents and saves our jobs if we can't save our constituents' jobs from the looms threat. as we see this over the horizon, how is that affecting the morale of the service members, how that affects them and their families? >> i am particularly worried about the civilian members. we'll exempt military personnel, so there's not a direct effect on military personnel, although it may affect their confidence, and i'm worried about the civilians who will be directly effected. we'll have a hiring freeze and suspec

mr. barber. >> thank you, mr. chairman. for allowing me to sit on this hearing. i also want to thank you for coming to arizona this week when we gather to honor brian into how the station -- border patrol station named for him. this young man sacrificed the ultimate sacrifice for our country and your presence there. the family in the congress was concerned and trying to do their best to financers to the the questions they have. when i met with them this week they had one question and one request from us. they asked that we make sure that they get the information that they have been waiting for that has been on their minds and their hearts were 21 months. to meet his average is they haven't gotten the answer sooner. they want to know what happened to brian come away guns were allowed to go into mexico with the full knowledge of personnel in the federal government and ultimately ended up at the same. they want to know who made the decision to launch fast and furious and who should be held accountable for these decisions and what the consequences they will face. mr.

mr. barber: in tragedy we laid our differences aside and found common purpose.of 9/11 is our ability to say with certainty that no enemy or threat can change the values of our country and that which it stands for. i remain awed by the bravery and valor shown each day by our first responders and their brothers and sisters in uniform and by ordinary americans. in tucson we have a special connection to 9/11, christina taylor green was a 9/11 baby. today would have been her 11th birthday. she died in the tragic shooting on january 8, 2011, when she came to speak with her congresswoman. just as on 9/11 we saw the spirit of the american people who came together in prayer, compassion, and unity on january 8, 2011, and the days and weeks that followed, this is who we are as a people and who we always will be. god bless all of us in this great country in which we are privileged to live. i yield back. . the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman rise? >> i ask permission to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker

mr. barber for making the effort to be there and for representing that area of arizona that i think is so affected by fast and furious. pursuant to the rules, all witnesses before this committee will be sworn so i would ask that our witness please rise and take the oath. please raise your right hand. do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? with that, the record will recognize that mr. horowitz answered in the affirmative. >> gently, we normally talk about the five minutes. take the time you need to give us your opening, recognizing that it will be a long day of additional opportunity for you to answer questions not in your opening. with that, the gentleman is recognized. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i have pared that down somewhat so that i don't go on for 20 or 30 minutes and i will try to stick to the five minutes, certainly. good morning, and thank you to the members of the committee for inviting me to testify today about the report released yesterday, which details a pattern of serious failures in bot

mr. barber for making the effort to be there and for representing that area of arizona that i think is so affected by fast and furious. pursuant to the rules, all witnesses before this committee will be sworn so i would ask that our witness please rise and take the oath. please raise your right hand. do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? with that, the record will recognize that mr. horowitz answered in the affirmative. >> gently, we normally talk about the five minutes. take the time you need to give us your opening, recognizing that it will be a long day of additional opportunity for you to answer questions not in your opening. with that, the gentleman is recognized. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i have pared that down somewhat so that i don't go on for 20 or 30 minutes and i will try to stick to the five minutes, certainly. good morning, and thank you to the members of the committee for inviting me to testify today about the report released yesterday, which details a pattern of serious failures in bot