Joe Crowley: “while I have problems with the concept of this supplemental and supplementals, and the misplaced budget priorities of…”

“while I have problems with the concept of this supplemental and supplementals, and the misplaced budget priorities of the Republican Party, this bill, I believe, is needed for our men and women who are fighting the war on terrorism. This bill includes much needed higher death benefits for our military. And while it will never return these patriots such as Christian Engeldrum in my district to his family, what we can do as Americans is ensure that his wife and children have financial security for his personal sacrifice to his country. This bill finally provides funding for body armor for our troops, something that this administration has refused to do for over 2 years now. So hopefully less families can claim the new death benefits for their loved ones fighting overseas. This bill provides much needed aid for the victims of the December tsunami. I led a delegation to Sri Lanka in January, and I saw first hand the resources needed in that country, multiplied by the effects on other countries; and this money will go to good use. This funding, along with the sheer generosity of the American people, is a true testament of our country in comparison to the tepid actions by the White House in the immediate days after the crisis. While this money is important, I would be remiss if I did not express my disappointment at no funding being included for the U.N. Population Fund for children and maternal health care in the tsunami region.…”