Charles Skelton: “Mr. Chairman, we are on the eve of Memorial Day, a day set aside each year beginning with the war of 1917-1918 to…”

“Mr. Chairman, we are on the eve of Memorial Day, a day set aside each year beginning with the war of 1917-1918 to recognize and memorialize those who paid the ultimate price and those who served and, subsequently, those who fought in wars since that time. Mr. Chairman, we are today involved in war. This bill before us is purported to be a supplemental for the battle against terrorism, one that is purported to support the war against terrorists and to support those wonderful young men and young women in American uniforms. So I think it is proper to measure this legislation before us by giving it the soldier test by asking that soldier who might well be in Afghanistan being shot at or returning fire and in danger as to what help he needs from the Congress of the United States in a supplemental appropriation. This bill has good things in it. It provides for new protective body armor for the servicemembers. It provides for Global Hawk and Predator unmanned aerial vehicles, which give invaluable intelligence. It provides for remote chemical and biological agent vapor detection systems. It provides for new radios for the F-15 fighter aircraft that have been so instrumental in providing close air support. It provides for CH-47 Chinook helicopters which move soldiers and equipment to the battlefield.”