[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 1, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E639]
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. MIKE ROSS

                              of arkansas

                    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. ROSS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in objection to the treatment of 
our veterans in the House-passed budget. Last October, we authorized 
President Bush to send our men and women in uniform into battle. Is 
this how we show our support for the brave soldiers who are risking 
their lives to fulfill their missions, by slashing funding that will 
take care of them after they have served time taking care of us?
  Last week the House managed to pass a budget that cuts veterans' 
benefits by $28.3 billion over the next ten years. This includes cuts 
to disability payments and pensions, the Montgomery GI Bill, the VA 
Health Care System, and other veterans programs.
  I reject the notion that we need to cut funding for veterans and 
retirees in order to pay for a multi-billion dollar tax cut package. 
During this time of military conflict, we have no business supporting 
tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans over benefits to provide for the 
needs of our veterans.
  As the conference committee meets to resolve the House and Senate 
budget differences, I urge them, on behalf of those who have served our 
country and those who are serving our country right now, to restore 
funding to the veterans programs that protect those who protect us.

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