[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 50 (Thursday, March 27, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E614]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004

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                               speech of

                            HON. TIM MURPHY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 20, 2003

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the concurrent resolution 
     (H. Con. Res. 95) establishing the congressional budget for 
     the United States Government for fiscal year 2004 and setting 
     forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2003 and 
     2005 through 2013:

  Mr. MURPHY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the fiscal year 
2004 budget resolution. I would like to thank the gentleman from Iowa 
for his hard work on the budget resolution. Over the last several days, 
I've met with House Leadership to voice my concerns with this 
resolution. Although this budget does not have everything in it I am 
requesting, it is showing considerable momentum in the right direction.
  Most Americans agree that the federal government must tighten its 
fiscal belt. This budget controls federal spending, while also ensuring 
that priority items are adequately funded. This budget protects the 
Medicare program while also beginning the process of reforming the 
system. This budget also provides $400 billion over ten years to 
provide a prescription drug benefit. I strongly support this funding, 
and I will continue to work for a Medicare prescription drug benefit 
for Pennsylvania's seniors.
  This budget protects our veterans. Although earlier drafts of this 
resolution provided lower levels of veterans' funding than in the 
President's fiscal year 2004 Budget, I strongly advocated the need for 
higher levels in my discussions with Leadership and the Committee. This 
resolution matches the President's proposed 6.1 percent increase in 
veterans' discretionary spending over fiscal year 2003, and a 7.5 
percent increase in mandatory outlays. I would like to thank the 
Chairman for his commitment to veterans, and for promising to support 
even higher levels of funding during conference negotiations.
  I have met with numerous veterans in my district and across 
Pennsylvania. Let me reassure those who served our country that I will 
continue to support stronger funding for veterans, especially in the 
area of health benefits. More needs to be done. For example, wait times 
for veterans seeking medical care remain much too long. But this budget 
is not the end of the road on veterans' funding, and, as the only 
Pennsylvania Member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I will continue 
to work on this.
  That Committee and several veterans' groups are working together to 
identify waste, fraud and abuse to ensure that the VA is using its 
resources efficiently. For example, the VA Inspector General has 
identified more than 5,500 cases of individuals who may be defrauding 
the VA by receiving benefits intended for veterans who have died. The 
VA has recovered $4.7 million from these cases. We must also update and 
improve purchasing procedures such as for medical supplies and 
prescription drugs. Every dollar wasted, every penny stolen through 
fraud or abuse is money robbed from veterans--and none of us will 
tolerate this.
  I also support this budget's call to cut one cent on the dollar from 
other federal agencies by reducing fraud, waste, and abuse. I believe 
we can find these savings and, as a taxpayer, I believe we are 
obligated to try. We must ensure, down to the last penny, that every 
tax dollar is spent wisely and efficiently.
  I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of protecting Medicare, 
providing funds for a Medicare prescription drug benefit, and 
increasing spending on veterans' health care needs.

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