Charles Skelton: “has anyone seen the defense supplemental appropriation? I seem to recall that during the recent Presidential election…”

“has anyone seen the defense supplemental appropriation? I seem to recall that during the recent Presidential election, much was made of the needs of our men and women in uniform. ``Help,'' we were told, ``is on the way.'' Now we know of helicopters that cannot fly, roofs on family housing leaking, training missions being canceled or deferred, and even major procurements being modified, all because the supplemental that was promised, the supplemental that was planned for, has not arrived. I know that Secretary Rumsfeld is in the middle of a wide-ranging strategy review and I know that he has put most of the Department of Defense on hold while the review runs its course. I will have more to say about that soon in another venue. But a supplemental appropriation has nothing to do with our future strategy. The shape of tomorrow's force is not the issue. The supplemental is supposed to pay for what our military has already done. So surely, Mr. Speaker, there must be a supplemental around here somewhere, and I would appreciate hearing from any other Member who happens to stumble over it. I have risen on this floor several times in the Congress to point out the need for such a supplemental. Even the commitment to having one would be enough to let commanders carry on, secure in the knowledge that their costs would be reimbursed later. But even that simple assurance has not been forthcoming. And our military services are paying the price today.…”