“I like some parts of this military bill. It reforms buying weapons. It raises military pay. It supports soldiers' families. But I don't like other parts. I don't like that the other party blocked our changes. They won't let us debate some things. They won't let us talk about the war in Iran. The war in Iran is bad. The President keeps dropping bombs. It costs a lot. It doesn't make us safer. And the bill spends too much. It spends $1.6 trillion on the military. We need that money for other things. Our debt is too high. We cut healthcare to spend more on war. That's wrong. We can't pretend to care about debt, then vote for a bigger debt. We can't have it both ways. The bill spends too much and supports a bad war.”
What they said. What they meant.
Plain-language translations from Congress.
Recent debates
8 latest topics
Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026
13 statements
Moment of Silence in Honor of the 25th Anniversary of September 11
2 statements
Honoring Former U.S. Representative Charles Hatcher of Georgia
2 statements
Recognizing Firefighters from California's Third Congressional District
17 statements
Saluting White Plains Beautification Foundation
2 statements
Celebrating Rural Lawyer Julie Bear
4 statements
Operation Midway Blitz Anniversary
2 statements
Catherine Watts Celebrates 100th Birthday
4 statements
House of Representatives
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
“I like parts of this bill. It spends a lot of taxpayer money on ships and submarines. That will help some businesses make more money. I want to keep hiring more workers to build more ships. I don't like other parts of this bill. It spends $1 billion on old ships that don't work well anymore. I want that money spent on different ships instead. I don't like that this bill was mixed with another bill about voting. That other bill shouldn't be in here. It's not related. I want to take that part out. I want this bill to pass. But I want it changed to spend money on the things I want.”
“I want to thank many people. I support some parts of this bill like pay raises and building projects. But I don't support the whole thing. It spends too much money. The government is spending more and more of taxpayers' money. It is too much. They want to spend a lot on the military and on a war. But they want to cut money in other places. They want to cut health care and food for children. We have to pay for the big spending somehow. I don't think this is a good plan. It is not responsible. I will vote no.”
“I want to spend less money on nuclear weapons. I want to keep the old missiles, not buy new ones. It costs too much. I don't think we need new ones.”
“I support this bill. It spends a lot of money. I want taxpayers to spend money on planes, helicopters, ground vehicles, and weapons. I want taxpayers to spend money on many programs. I am sad that some people in my party don't want to spend as much money as I do. I think spending lots of money on weapons will help our country be strong. I want more planes, helicopters, and weapons. I want more money for an office that tests weapons.”
“Our bill spends lots of money on defense. Our military will get a raise. I want our military to have enough doctors and childcare. I want the war with Iran to end. It causes high gas prices. I don't want mean politics in this bill.”
“I don't like this bill. I don't want more money for the military. Our government spends too much on war. We spend too much on the military. I want our government to spend more on other programs. Our government should spend more on healthcare and food. I don't want tax cuts. I think the war in Iran is bad. It costs too much. There is no plan. The war makes us spend more and more. I am tired of talking about this.”