I rise in support of H.R. 3936, the Veterans Health Programs Improvement Act of 2004. I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) again for his leadership on these issues. Every time we try to do something good, his name is…

I rise in support of S. 2484, the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Enhancement Act of 2004. There are now over 14,000 physicians and dentists who work in the VA health care system. Unfortunately, the pay system that the…

I rise in support of H.R. 4231. It is a good bill that will give the Department of Veterans Affairs some new opportunities to meet the challenges of maintaining a strong nursing workforce during the severe nursing shortage projected for…

I am proud to have served with Bob Michel. In the 1980s he represented the greater Peoria region, and the Peoria clinic serves many of my constituents in Fulton and Knox Counties. Bob Michel is a rare breed in today's Congress. He knew the…

I am proud to support this Commemorative Coin Act. I want to thank my friend and fellow Marine, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha), for sponsoring this legislation. We have worked hard together to get our colleagues out in…

I do not see eye to eye with him on this issue as the best way to address human rights in Vietnam. I am also afraid that this resolution and the sanctions enclosed will damage relations between our two countries. I also feel that this…

I rise in support of H.R. 4345. This bill is an example of bipartisan legislation that the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs has voted for. It includes provisions drawn from H.R. 1735, introduced on April 10, 2003, by the gentlewoman…

I rise in full support of H. Con. Res. 56. There are 1.5 million visually impaired Americans struggling to gain and maintain their independence. Many gain independence through the use of aids to mobility, such as white canes and guide…

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…

although no resolution or parade will ever be able to express our appreciation enough to our World War II veterans, this resolution is indeed an honorable effort. Mr. Speaker, the World War II era was a decisive time for our Nation and the…

I rise in favor of H. Res. 581, which urges this administration to provide pay parity to civilian government workers and uniformed government workers. I was greatly disappointed at the President's meager pay raise for Federal workers and…

Mr. Chairman, we are very disappointed, those of us who are veterans, and all of our veterans throughout the country, by this budget submitted by the administration and are equally disappointed and angered by the Republican budget…

I would like to remember my friend and former colleague, Congressman Joe Skeen, who passed away recently in his home State of New Mexico. Mr. Skeen was truly a giant in New Mexico politics, serving 22 years and entering the class just…

this has been a disappointing week in Washington for seniors around the country. Not only are we voting on a bill that provides a meager prescription drug benefit through Medicare, but the once-regarded AARP has apparently put their profit…

I rise to support the Veterans Health Care, Capital Asset and Business Improvement Act of 2003. I want to start out by thanking the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) again for his willingness to work closely with me and the Democratic…

I am very proud to be an original cosponsor of many of the provisions contained in this act. I am especially pleased for children of veterans who were exposed to herbicides in Korea, and who now are suffering from spina bifida, like a lot…

I rise to point out that this conference report does not adequately address the needs of our disabled military retirees. The conference report provides no relief whatsoever to two-thirds of disabled veterans who are now paying the Disabled…

I rise in support of H.R. 2744, designating the post office in Moline, Illinois, after my good friend Dave Bybee, who passed away in May of last year. Dave served as a letter carrier and union leader for 33 years within the very building I…

I am here to speak against the rule on the VA-HUD appropriations bill. Our troops are beginning to return from their service in Afghanistan and Iraq. Sadly, these have not been bloodless wars. None of them are in history, and certainly…

everyone knows American seniors are facing staggering prescription drug costs. Currently, safe and cheaper drugs lie across our northern border in Canada. Seniors do not have to go far to see how much less the rest of the world pays for…

this Republican Medicare bill falls well short of what our country's retirees deserve. And I believe, that if this Congress and this President had not squandered the budget surplus we could afford to give our seniors a benefit they…

as Representative for the 17th Congressional District in Illinois, a district encompassing Springfield, Illinois, where Abraham Lincoln got his political start, I pledge my support for the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. Abraham…

I support H.R. 1460, the Veterans' Entrepreneurship and Benefits Improvement Act of 2003 and urge passage by this Chamber. I would like to thank Chris Smith, chairman of the full committee, the Benefits Subcommittee chairman, Henry Brown…

this legislation is vital to continuing our military readiness to further the war on terrorism and provide for the defense of our homeland. This bill also gives our troops and their commanders the tools necessary for the 21st century…

I am here today to address my concerns regarding the pending tax cut legislation. This so-called ``economic growth'' bill will do nothing to grow the economy, increase the number of jobs, or help the middle or low income families that make…