Robert C. Byrd: “We're appropriating on behalf of the American people, and it involves their treasure and their sons and daughters.”

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

Doesn't this send a signal to the Iraqi people and to the American people that the United States intends to have a large permanent presence there?

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

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.