Political Quotes

“I rise in opposition to S. Con. Res. 95. As too many of us in this body know, this budget is a sham. It fails to account for the real costs of waging the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. At least on the House side, it allows tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans to go forward unchecked, while spending for important domestic programs is laid to waste. Among those high priorities that will be severely underfunded is veterans' health care. Committee on Veterans Affairs Chairman Christopher H. Smith and I submitted Views and Estimates to the Budget Committee requesting that it add $2.5 billion to VA's budget for fiscal year 2004. This was not a 'pie in the sky' request, but rather, focused on maintaining current services, restoring funds from the administration's failed proposals to increase copayments and introduce new enrollment fees, and slightly enhancing some services that will have to respond to the needs of demobilizing troops. The resolution we are voting on today will make less than half of these funds available to VA's discretionary programs. Mr. Speaker, sadly, I realize VA programs are among those considered 'protected' in this budget fiasco. Many social programs will fare worse. Unfortunately, that's not good enough for our veterans, especially during a time of war when we should be most sensitive toward keeping our promises to the men and women who have borne the battle.”