Charles Skelton: “I support strongly the Spratt resolution. Quite honestly, it is better on national defense than the resolution offered…”

“I support strongly the Spratt resolution. Quite honestly, it is better on national defense than the resolution offered by the majority. Here are five reasons why. First, the Spratt alternative matches the President's overall request for defense, dollar for dollar. As a matter of fact, the majority resolution falls $189 million short. When our troops are on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan, Haiti and everywhere else in the world, I do not think we should cut a dime. Second, the Spratt alternative saves the privatized housing initiative by raising the cap on the program by $1.1 billion over 5 years. This is very important for our families. The majority resolution, as written, assumes no raise in the cap, so almost 50,000 military families that are supposed to get new privatized housing in the year 2005 and in the year 2006 will have to wait for adequate housing. Although there was a discussion on the House Floor in which the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle) promised to work with us to try to resolve the scoring issue, it is not there, and it does not count unless it is in the resolution. It is in the Spratt alternative. Third, the Spratt alternative continues TRICARE for reservists, helping to ensure that all reservists have health care insurance.”