Denise Majette: “I rise to oppose the $87 billion supplemental appropriation in its current form. It is with deep regret that I do so. I…”

“I rise to oppose the $87 billion supplemental appropriation in its current form. It is with deep regret that I do so. I cannot vote for the request because it does not give the troops and the American people what they need. We want a bill that more fully supports our troops and their families. Accordingly, I support the Obey substitute. We want a bill that honestly assesses what the military costs will be and protects the quality of life for all of the men and women who are serving so valiantly. For example, the administration's request contains only $15 million for water purification equipment. This will leave approximately 80 percent of the troops in Iraq without clean water. Our men and women deserve better. The Obey substitute addresses that issue. We want a detailed accounting of the money that has been spent so far before handing out new money. I look at this the way I treat my teenage sons. If I give them $20 on Monday and then on Tuesday they come to me and ask me for $30, I want to know what happened to the money I gave them on Monday. We want a bill that will enable us to share the burdens and responsibilities of reconstruction with other nations and the people of Iraq and eliminate the back-scratching, good-old-boy, business-as-usual approach that this administration loves to use. It has become clearer and clearer every day that the administration has no postwar plan for Iraq. There is no exit strategy, only furloughs.”