Charles Skelton: “Help is on the way.'' That was the promise this administration made to our country and to our servicemembers before the…”

“Help is on the way.'' That was the promise this administration made to our country and to our servicemembers before the election in 2002. And look what it has come to mean. The Army cannot pay its utility bills, defense workers are on the unemployment lines, and equipment readiness is slipping to historic lows. So I ask, exactly who is being helped? I am sure that the administration will blame the Army's money problems on the war. There is no doubt that the $350 billion excursion into Iraq has placed stress on the Army as well as the other services. But this Congress has continually provided these supplemental funds the administration has requested to wage the war, and has even increased the defense budget by 19 percent since 2001. So I ask, how can it be that the Army is closing or curtailing the family support programs and laying off employees? The answer is clear. The administration is not requesting sufficient funds to provide for the national defense beyond the war in Iraq. This Congress has already provided $166 billion to the Army in 2006. That is $2 billion more than the administration requested. Obviously it is not enough. Because I am hearing of reports in the media about bases like Fort Sam Houston where the utility bills have not been paid since March. The Army knows it has a problem.…”