Robert C. Byrd: “Are these reports accurate? Is there now or will there soon be a cutback in the R&R leave for our troops in Iraq?”

Why should Congress not have some limitations on this? It is the taxpayers' money.

I cannot support this item unless there are some limitations on it, unless Congress can exercise its power over the purse, as the Constitution provides.

The Department is firmly committed to working closely and openly with Congress in order to protect the health of our servicemembers.

My top priority will be to learn what challenges the DOD IG office needs to address and to ensure the adequacy of resources required to accomplish its mission.