Providing for Consideration of Motions to Suspend the Rules
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES -- (House of Representatives - June 30, 2005)
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Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time and for her leadership on this important issue. I also want to acknowledge the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey). He and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards) have been such champions for America's veterans.
Mr. Speaker, as we approach this 4th of July, we remember the sacrifice, the vision of our Founding Fathers, the courage, the imagination, and the intellect and values they presented in the Declaration of Independence. Since then, our country has always been about shared sacrifice in time of war and in time of peace. That is, up until now.
As Americans, we make a simple yet sacred promise to our veterans: You take care of us and we will take care of you. How we repay the service of our veterans speaks volumes about the character of our country. Unfortunately, under Republican leadership, the Congress is failing to keep faith with the veterans who have defended our freedom with their very lives.
Veterans of this country deserve some answers. Why does the Republican leadership in Congress find billions of dollars of tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans but does not find enough money for the veterans who risk their lives for our Nation? Why are veterans' affairs initiatives consistently underfunded and shortchanged, forcing thousands of veterans to wait months for health care? Why did the Bush administration suddenly discover a shortfall when we had been talking about this for months? Democrats and veterans organizations have been saying that the VA has been underfunded for more than 2 years now.
The answer is simple: The shortfall is the direct result of the failed budget policies and misplaced priorities of the Bush administration and the Republican Congress. Republicans here have either been in denial about the plight of our veterans or it simply has not been a priority for them.
This did not have to happen. Veterans across our country did not have to hear that the government had underfunded their health care. Our veterans did not have to give up only part of their patriotism and bravery in defending our Nation. Let today be the day when we begin to enact a GI Bill of Rights, and we can begin by responding to the call from the Senate.
The reason that we are here this evening, and the effect of the motion that is made to the Committee on Rules on the previous question, would say that if we defeat the previous question, the resolution offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards) would come to the floor and would fund by $1.5 billion the needs for veterans' health care.
Senator Craig said in a unanimous vote that the appropriators in the Senate voted to authorize the Senate to quickly take up the $1.5 billion emergency supplemental if the House approves such a measure. So a vote ``no'' on the previous question says ``yes'' to bringing up the Edwards resolution, which would immediately send it to the Senate, where they would take it up immediately, pass it, and send it to the President's desk.
Instead, the Republicans are advocating a different position, which is to once again shortchange America's veterans. On a battlefield, Mr. Speaker, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a Nation, let our pledge be that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind. We can support our veterans with a ``no'' vote on the previous question, and a 'yes' on the Edwards resolution, and a ``yes'' for our veterans. That would be the appropriate observation of the 4th of July.
Mr. Speaker, I support the President's call for flying the flag on the 4th of July. Let us fly the flag and fund veterans' benefits.
Mr. Speaker, as we approach this Fourth of July, we remember the sacrifice of our Founding Fathers--the courage, the imagination, the intellect, and the values they presented in the Declaration of Independence. And since then, our country has always been about shared sacrifice--when it came to war, and when it came to peace. That is, up until now.
As Americans, we make a simple yet sacred promise to our veterans: ``You have taken care of us, so we will take care of you.'' How we repay the service of our veterans speaks volumes about our national character. Unfortunately under Republican leadership, the Congress is failing to keep faith with the veterans who have defended our freedom with their very lives.
Veterans in this country deserve some answers. Why does the Republican leadership in Congress find billions in tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, but does not find enough money for the veterans who risked their lives for our Nation? Why are Veterans Affairs initiatives consistently underfunded, forcing thousands of veterans to wait months for health care? Why did the Bush Administration suddenly discover a shortfall, when Democrats and veterans have been saying that the VA was underfunded for more than 2 years now?
The answer is simple: this shortfall is the direct result of the failed budget policies and misplaced priorities of the Bush Administration and the Republican Congress.
This did not have to happen. Veterans across our Nation did not have to hear that their government had under funded their health care; our veterans did not give only part of their patriotism and bravery in defending our Nation.
For more than two years, Democrats and veterans' organizations have stood together, calling for adequate funding.
We have sent letters, we have offered amendments, and we have launched a discharge petition to try to force a vote on additional funding for veterans' health care. We have tried time and time again, only to be rebuffed by the Republicans in Congress every step of the way. Vote after vote failed on the party line.
For our latest attempt, we sent a letter, signed by every single Democrat, to President Bush calling for an emergency supplemental to fund VA health care.
It seems that our voices were finally heard. Democrats have made this too hot for the Republicans to handle.
The truth has come out. The Bush Administration and the Republicans in Congress are finally admitting to what we've been saying for 2 years.
And today we have a chance in taking the first step in righting a wrong. The problem is that once again, the Republicans are a day late and dollar short.
The Senate Appropriations Committee has authorized the Senate to quickly take up a $1.5 billion emergency supplemental if the House passes the same.
The Chairman of the Senate Veteran's Committee has stated, and I quote, ``Clearly there is a disagreement here on the number, but it's clear that we all want to do the right thing for our veterans. We do not want to leave the Department of Veterans Affairs short of funds. Working with our colleagues in the House, I'm sure we can achieve that objective.''
The VA desperately needs this funding. And to get it done today the House must pass $1.5 billion for our veterans.
The ultimate fix would be what veterans and the Ranking Democrat on the Veterans Affairs Committee, Lane Evans, have been calling for. They are correct, the only way to assure funding for VA health care: make it mandatory.
But let us start today by voting no on the previous question, so we can offer an amendment that would increase the amount for veterans to $1.5 billion to match the Senate amount.
Caring for our veterans shouldn't be a partisan issue. It should be our number one priority. Our veterans deserve better.
We must fulfill our sacred obligations to those who have worn this Nation's uniform.
My wish is that today's vote will lead to a renewed bipartisan commitment for our veterans.
Let today be the beginning of a new chapter, let today be the day when this government no longer ignores the promises we've made, and provide the support our veterans have earned and deserve.
Let today be the day when we begin ending the Disabled Veterans' Tax for every single veteran.
Let today be the day when we begin fully ending the Military Families Tax.
Let today be the day when we begin to enact a new GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century.
On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a Nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind.
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