Bob Filner: “Now, all of us on this side of the aisle have spoken of our deep respect for the chair, the gentleman from New York (Mr.…”

“Now, all of us on this side of the aisle have spoken of our deep respect for the chair, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), but we also have taken issue with the sense that we are doing all we can do in this bill, in this case for our Nation's veterans. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) talks in a passive sense that we have been allocated a number. This is an active decision by this House to allocate certain figures, and this House can do what it will with regard to the budget. As the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) has pointed out, we have spoken about our priorities. This budget ranks veterans' affairs, I am afraid, very low in the priorities. The chair said that this is fully funded, medical care for our veterans is fully funded. I am not sure what that means, but I would challenge my colleagues to go to any town hall meeting of veterans in this Nation and tell them that their benefits and their health care is fully funded. The gentleman from Michigan said this is a good and responsible budget. I take issue. It is not a good budget. It is an irresponsible budget. We are reneging on our commitment to our Nation's veterans, Mr. Speaker.”