mr. bonner at our brief hearing at our threat briefing, mr. bonner was the only one that didn't get any time. so i offered to give mr. bonner, and he has a very important mission in his chairmanship, and he has to perform that this morning. so mr. bonner, we're going to recognize you now for five minutes. >> thank you, mr. chairman. secretary gates, welcome back to the committee. i think the fact that there are so many members here, in fact, it's almost full, speaks volumes of the importance of your testimony today and the many important issues that are facing our country and, in fact, the world. and in fact, your own comments in recent days have raised questions here in congress and around the country as we are currently engaged in two wars in iraq and afghanistan. so i'm sure some of my colleagues will like to focus your attention to some of the other pressing matters that come before us today with your testimony. forgive me for being a little get parochial in my questions and my concerns. notwithstanding a friendly disagreement with the rank

mr. bonner at our brief hearing at our threat briefing, mr. bonner was the only one that didn't get any time. so i offered to give mr. bonner, and he has a very important mission in his chairmanship, and he has to perform that this morning. so mr. bonner, we're going to recognize you now for five minutes. >> thank you, mr. chairman. secretary gates, welcome back to the committee. i think the fact that there are so many members here, in fact, it's almost full, speaks volumes of the importance of your testimony today and the many important issues that are facing our country and, in fact, the world. and in fact, your own comments in recent days have raised questions here in congress and around the country as we are currently engaged in two wars in iraq and afghanistan. so i'm sure some of my colleagues will like to focus your attention to some of the other pressing matters that come before us today with your testimony. forgive me for being a little get parochial in my questions and my concerns. notwithstanding a friendly disagreement with the rank

mr. bonner was the only one that didn't get any time. so i offered to give mr. bonner, and he has a very important mission in his chairmanship, and he has to perform that this morning. so mr. bonner, we're going to recognize you now for five minutes. >> thank you, mr. chairman. secretary gates, welcome back to the committee. i think the fact that there are so many members here, in fact, it's almost full, speaks volumes of the importance of your testimony today and the many important issues that are facing our country and, infact, the world. and in fact, your own comments in recent days have raised questions here in congress and around the country as we are currently engaged in two wars in iraq and afghanistan. so i'm sure some of my colleagues will like to focus your attention to some of the other pressing matters that come before us today with your testimony. forgive me for being a little get parochial in my questions and my concerns. notwithstanding a friendly disagreement with the ranking meber and the gentleman that i have a lot of respect for. the people alo

mr. bonner. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. bonner: i urge my colleagues to support this continuing resolution as unpleasant as it is. our democrat colleagues, our republican colleagues, we agree, we don't like being in the situation we're in. but we're in this situation nevertheless. our colleagues remember that for the first time since 1974 we didn't pass a budget last year. we didn't pass a single appropriations bill as the chairman of the committee has noted. we don't like being in this situation. but we're in this situation. and yet, i think there's a real disconnect between washington and the american people. i was listening to the television news this sunday when senate kyl put the budget debate in perspective. while rarely do house members quote senators, i think it's worth it. we talk about trillions and billions and millions but if you were had a $10,000 budget, $10,000 budget which most americans can more easily identify with. and 40% of that is actually borrowed money. what we're talking about with h.r. 1, the basis

mr. bonner. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. bonner: i urge my colleagues to support this continuing resolution as unpleasant as it is. our democrat colleagues, our republican colleagues, we agree, we don't like being in the situation we're in. but we're in this situation nevertheless. our colleagues remember that for the first time since 1974 we didn't pass a budget last year. we didn't pass a single appropriations bill as the chairman of the committee has noted. we don't like being in this situation. but we're in this situation. and yet, i think there's a real disconnect between washington and the american people. i was listening to the television news this sunday when senate kyl put the budget debate in perspective. while rarely do house members quote senators, i think it's worth it. we talk about trillions and billions and millions but if you were had a $10,000 budget, $10,000 budget which most americans can more easily identify with. and 40% of that is actually borrowed money. what we're talking about with h.r. 1, the basis