Sanford Bishop: “Mr. Speaker, 3 years ago a bipartisan majority here in Congress passed the Defense budget that substantially increased…”

“Mr. Speaker, 3 years ago a bipartisan majority here in Congress passed the Defense budget that substantially increased funding for the Armed Forces, launching a rebuilding process that is gradually addressing the deficiencies in readiness and quality of life in military service that had developed over many years of post-Cold War downsizing. Rebuilding has not been as fast as I would like and certainly not as fast as the men and women at the bases located in the part of Georgia that I have the privilege of representing would like. But, on a bipartisan basis, we are moving in the right direction. For one thing, this bill authorizes a reorganization plan prepared by Army Secretary Caldera to shut down the School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia, and to open a new program with a restructured curriculum and with a strong independent oversight that includes congressional representation on the school's board of visitors. This program, which teaches professionalism and the principles of democracy to Latin American military and government personnel, is an important instrument of U.S. policy in our hemisphere; and I commend Congress for its farsighted action on this issue. The bill also is commendable for stepping up the process of raising the quality of life for all Americans who are serving in our military and for those who faithfully served in the past. This includes the health care benefits for our veterans.…”