On the recordApril 3, 2003
I just returned from Camp Lejeune, went down with the President and the gentlemen from North Carolina (Mr. McIntyre) and (Mr. Ballance), my colleagues, to say thank you to the families of those who have lost loved ones fighting this war in Iraq. I just want to say I join my colleagues on both sides of the political aisle. I think it is time that this Congress start looking at what is important to this country. Let me give an example. Veterans. I have 61,000 veterans in my district. Many of my colleagues in this House have more than that, but I have 61,000 veterans and retired military combined. Yet every year when we debate concurrent receipts for those men and women who have served this Nation, it is also a major issue of where are we going to find the money? How are we going to help those who have served this Nation? I believe sincerely, and I know that through history, Turkey has been a friend of this Nation and maybe it is now and maybe it will be in the future, but I agree with my colleagues, this $1 billion is unnecessary. The gentleman that spoke before me just said that Turkey has not even asked for the $1 billion. I am saying to this Congress that this is going to be a tough budget year, there are going to be a lot of tight decisions that we have to make, and let us take this money and let us spend this money on the American people.
Source
govinfo.gov
