Floor Speeches
US Troop Readiness Veterans Health And Iraq Accountability Act of 2007View video on the US Troop Readiness Veterans Health And Iraq Accountability Act of 2007.
Washington, DC,
March 22, 2007
Tags:
Veterans & Armed Forces
Click image to open in Windows Media Player. Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the rule for H.R. 1591. In fact, Madam Chair, you have set the rule, and we need rules of the road. That is why we need to pass H.R. 1591. This is not the average spending bill taken up by the Congress. This legislation represents a very personal decision that needs to be made by each and every Member of this body about the future of our Nation. The fact is, and I address, if I may through the Chair, my respected brothers and sisters in the opposition. The fact is that this bill was not necessitated by the acts of Congress. No, no. This supplemental is necessary because our Nation faces an emergency due to the multitude of failures from this administration. Why are you carrying their water? Funding will be provided to make certain that the disgrace of Walter Reed will not be repeated. This supplemental makes certain that our troops are not redeployed in and out of Iraq without proper rest, without proper preparation. We all support that, don't we? And our support in Iraq will be brought to an end responsibly. We recently observed the 4-year anniversary of the war in Iraq. And yet during those 4 years, Congress stood on the sidelines providing endless funding without questioning. No more; no more. Today, Congress finally fulfills its constitutionally mandated responsibility, provides real oversight for the funding of this war, and holds this administration accountable for its actions. That is what this rule, that is what this legislation is all about. We have the opportunity here, all of us, to undo some of the severe damage caused by the unnecessary war. I ask Members to vote for the rule and for the bill. ### |