WASHINGTON (CNN) -- House debate on the new Iraq spending bill is bringing out a range of emotions from some congressmen, including House Minority Leader John Boehner.

"I didn't come here to be a congressman -- I came here to do something," the Ohio Republican said as he choked up with tears in his eyes on the House floor. "And I think at the top of our list is providing for the safety and security of the American people. That's at the top of our list. After 3,000 of our fellow citizens died at the hands of these terrorists, when are we going to stand up and take them on? When are we going to defeat them?"

"Ladies and gentlemen, if we don't do it now, if we don't have the courage to defeat the enemy, we will long, long regret it," he added.

Following his speech on the House floor, Boehner wiped his eyes and told CNN's Andrea Koppel, "It's been a long month."