Bob Filner: “for over 50 years veterans' programs and benefits have been viewed as matters far too important for partisan bickering.…”

“for over 50 years veterans' programs and benefits have been viewed as matters far too important for partisan bickering. Democrats and Republicans worked together to create the most generous and successful array of veterans' programs in the world. Unfortunately, this bipartisan tradition supporting veterans' matters is in the process of being destroyed by our colleagues on the other side of the aisle. We have all heard and read the rhetoric put out by our Republican colleagues asserting their strong support for our Nation's veterans, and they have implied that President Clinton does not care about veterans; in fact, that he would balance the budget on the backs of veterans. But, Mr. Speaker, let us look at the facts. The Republican budget that has been presented for fiscal year 1997 slashes the President's request for veterans' funding by $573 million. Our Nation's veterans deserve better than empty Republican rhetoric. They have more than earned our real support and respect. Mr. Speaker, let us quit playing games with this special group of citizens and get down to the hard work of establishing and maintaining meaningful programs and benefits for our veterans.”