Lynn C. Woolsey: “last week, Members of this House were given a chance to put some real action behind the slogan, ``Support the Troops,''…”

“last week, Members of this House were given a chance to put some real action behind the slogan, ``Support the Troops,'' because one of the spending votes that we had before us included a provision to support the 21st Century Veterans Bill of Rights. This Bill of Rights will restore full, 4-year college scholarships to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars to help make these troops, these soldiers part of an economic recovery like the veterans of World War II. The first 2 years of the new GI Bill would cost what we spend in 2 days in Iraq. Imagine that. We could provide our veterans with 2 years of the GI Bill for 2 days of what we spend in Iraq. And yet some folks here in the House could not bring themselves to support the provision. All I can say is, what does that say to our brave men and women in uniform? Veterans who have sacrificed for our country deserve to receive our Nation's support. The administration sent them to Iraq, and because they are vigilant and dedicated, very few of us standing here today serving in the U.S. House of Representatives or Senate have sent our sons and daughters over there. We haven't had to watch our kids be killed or wounded. And we must not let our troops down.”