Political Quotes

“this underlying amendment, as others before and after, chips away at the tax relief package proposed by the President. All citizens, including our veterans, deserve tax relief. This amendment that I have just offered on behalf of Senator Domenici would increase veterans' discretionary spending for the coming year by almost $2 billion, including a $1.7 billion increase for medical care. This is the highest increase ever; this is the first increase in recent years. Let me make a point that the President's budget request for VA is an excellent one. This body should recall from previous years that the prior administration proposed to freeze veterans' medical care with no increase at all. This amendment also provides the highest increase ever for the Veterans' Benefit Administration, where a backlog of claims continues to mount. This is a problem that the prior administration refused to address. Finally, this amendment does not assume spending beyond fiscal year 2002 because VA has a new administration, new management, and a massive strategic review. I urge support of the second-degree amendment.”