[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 11, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H6125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       OUR VETERANS DESERVE BETTER THAN EMPTY REPUBLICAN RHETORIC

  (Mr. FILNER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, for over 50 years veterans' programs and 
benefits have been viewed as matters far too important for partisan 
bickering. Democrats and Republicans worked together to create the most 
generous and successful array of veterans' programs in the world.
  Unfortunately, this bipartisan tradition supporting veterans' matters 
is in the process of being destroyed by our colleagues on the other 
side of the aisle. We have all heard and read the rhetoric put out by 
our Republican colleagues asserting their strong support for our 
Nation's veterans, and they have implied that President Clinton does 
not care about veterans; in fact, that he would balance the budget on 
the backs of veterans.
  But, Mr. Speaker, let us look at the facts. The Republican budget 
that has been presented for fiscal year 1997 slashes the President's 
request for veterans' funding by $573 million. Our Nation's veterans 
deserve better than empty Republican rhetoric. They have more than 
earned our real support and respect.
  Mr. Speaker, let us quit playing games with this special group of 
citizens and get down to the hard work of establishing and maintaining 
meaningful programs and benefits for our veterans.

                          ____________________