[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 78 (Friday, May 23, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1077]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING OUR FALLEN HEROES ON MEMORIAL DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 2003

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, on Memorial Day, we will somberly 
celebrate the lives of a new generation of fallen heroes and honor 
American soldiers who paid the ultimate price in battle. We can only 
offer our gratitude as a small measure of comfort to the families of 
the young American men and women who will not be returning home from 
Afghanistan or Iraq.
  Like those Americans before them, these brave men and women heeded 
our Nation's call to duty and followed their Commander-in-Chief's 
orders to go to battle, willingly and dutifully. They sacrificed their 
lives in wars and conflicts that their comrades are still fighting 
today.
  As we pay tribute to the lost soldiers, we hope for the safe return 
of the men and women still on the battlefield, overseas and in hostile 
territory. To serve their country, they left behind families and loved 
ones, jobs and communities. But like millions of American soldiers 
through the years, they will be back on U.S. soil soon enough.
  It is our duty to live up to the promises that we made to each and 
every one of those soldiers and to every veteran who served his or her 
nation. Unfortunately, the painful truth is veterans' critical needs 
are being ignored each day. It is shameful that 200,000 veterans must 
wait 6 months or more for their first appointment at a VA medical 
facility. It is disgraceful that the current Republican budget calls 
for cutting veterans' health care by $6.2 billion over the next ten 
years. It is unpatriotic to burden our retired soldiers and their 
families with extra costs for prescription drugs and doctor visits.
  Is this what our soldiers have to look forward to? A litany of broken 
promises? Congress and the President must keep their promises to the 
nation's veterans and make adequate investments in veterans' health 
care. Because of President Bush's budget priorities and tax breaks for 
millionaires, veterans will continue to suffer the consequences. 
Democrats have offered a plan to roll back health care cost increases 
imposed by the Bush Administration and the Republican Congress, expand 
health care access for veterans and educational opportunities for 
reservists, and provide cash bonuses to soldiers serving in Iraq and 
Afghanistan. In addition, families of those killed on active duty would 
receive higher benefits under the Democratic proposal.
  Our brave men and women have met all kinds of threats and have 
defeated unspeakable dangers, but they must not be forced to fight for 
what is rightfully theirs here at home. Our veterans may be gone from 
the military, but they must not be forgotten.

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