Bill Clinton: “with this vote, Congress has provided funding for our troops while also putting forward sensible provisions to begin the…”

“with this vote, Congress has provided funding for our troops while also putting forward sensible provisions to begin the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. I call upon the President to work with Congress in order to ensure the troops receive these funds and that we change course in Iraq. I am also pleased to announce with Senator Schumer that after a long struggle, and thanks to the leadership of Senator Byrd and Senator Harkin, we have secured $50 million for the monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment for the thousands of men and women whose health has been terribly affected by the dust, debris, and poisons that filled the air after the attacks of 9/11. I am grateful for the support of Senator Byrd, Senator Harkin and Senator Specter who have been steadfast in recognizing our duty to help those who helped New York in our hour of need--and help everyone whose health and lives have been affected by 9/11. This is a great victory for the victims and heroes, for New York, and for our values which were targeted on 9/11. The Centers of Excellence providing care through the Mt. Sinai consortium and the Fire Department of New York with Federal funds are doing heroic work--but more and more people are walking through the doors because of respiratory problems and other debilitating conditions. These treatment centers--centers that provide essential care to those who responded in our time of need--are on the brink of running out of Federal resources in the fall.”