Walter B. Jones: “we know it is a very difficult budget year and lots of decisions have to be made. I have 61,000 retired veterans and…”

“we know it is a very difficult budget year and lots of decisions have to be made. I have 61,000 retired veterans and military retirees, combined, that live in the Third District of North Carolina, the home of Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. And like each and every one of my colleagues, I know we all care about our vets, but let me say that sometimes, for all of us who serve, you get a little bit wondering, what are our priorities? And with all of the responsibilities we have, should those vets be number one for this country? I believe those of us who had the privilege to serve--and no, I do not have a military background, but Members do not need a military background to appreciate those who put the uniform on for this country. Mr. Chairman, I think about those young kids at Walter Reed and those young kids at Bethesda who lost a limb, many are paralyzed, and in the short term they will be taken care of, but how about 3 and 4 and 5 years down the road? We are losing beds and losing care. America is too great to let this happen. Let me say, Mr. Chairman, in closing, that many of my vets ask me, we find this money for foreign aid, we find $15 billion for Africa, and they want to help the AIDS victims in Africa, but they agree and I agree, they should come first. Then if we have extra money, let us help the other people; but for God's sake, let us not forget our vets. We made a promise a few months ago that it would be $1.8 billion.…”