Medicare and Social Security have created the healthiest and most financially secure generation of senior citizens in American history.

This inevitability of conflict motivates us today and echoes the reminder that freedom is not given away and our national security is not achieved without sacrifice.

The U.S. Armed Forces are the best trained, best equipped fighting forces in the world.

The selfless actions of these heroes have removed them from their families, businesses and homeland to fight, so that others may experience the liberty awaiting our troops upon safe return to America.

The Federal appropriations process is a marathon, not a sprint, and we are at the beginning of that process.

Personally, in my home, the district in central New York, the Air National Guard base, not 5 years ago, the commandant came through and said, This is one of the sorriest looking bases I have ever seen.

Our soldiers and their families are benefiting. They deserve good, quality housing and they need it.

We must never forget or diminish the sacrifices of those who gave everything for this nation.

Never, since the fall of communism, has it been so abundantly clear that an ethos exists, which is loath to accept the freedoms and prosperity we hold sacred in this nation.

With this realization, came a growing need for men and women willing to take up arms in an effort to protect our American way of life and the freedoms so many of our ancestors died to entrench.

I do not believe that the Social Security system is in crisis.

I believe, based on the activities, and I am not an expert on terrorism by any stretch, but I believe that when they attacked the United States and they attacked New York and Washington, D.C., they thought they could defeat us.

I believe Congress has a duty to do so as well; not simply as a body of legislators, but more importantly as a community of friends, neighbors, parents and Americans.

For as long as this nation has known war, we have embraced the heroes it has produced.

Certainly, we need to support the communities around the country, and we do.