[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 136 (Tuesday, September 30, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H9002-H9003]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SUPPORT OUR TROOPS: $1,500 BONUS BILL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Miller of Michigan). Under a previous 
order of the House, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak) is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, this week as the other body takes up the 
President's request for the $87 billion in supplemental appropriations 
for Iraq, we must do more for our troops and their families who are 
under increasing duress.
  Specifically, Congress should grant a $1,500 bonus to all who served 
in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  Not since Vietnam have such a large number of troops had such long 
deployments. The pressure this puts on our troops and their families is 
tremendous.
  This summer, the Department of Defense increased deployments for 
troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan to 1 year, and not until last 
week, did the Department of Defense offer these troops who are living 
under highly primitive and stressful conditions a 2-week leave for rest 
and recuperation.
  Tragically, this month our U.S. causalities in Iraq surpassed the 
number of those killed in the first Gulf War. We have now lost more 
than 308 servicemen and women.
  Recognizing the increasing gravity of U.S. military involvement 
abroad, I have introduced H.R. 3051, to qualify all active-duty 
military personnel deployed for any length of time in Iraq and 
Afghanistan for a $1,500 bonus. This $1,500 bonus proposal should be 
part of the supplemental appropriations bill. Although, as Members of 
Congress, we may have different ideas about U.S. policy in Iraq, we can 
all agree our servicemen and women deserve our sincere recognition for 
their courageous efforts. Fifteen hundred dollars will not only help 
boost morale, but will send a strong bipartisan message to our troops 
that Congress is unified behind them.
  The Bush administration is actively lobbying Members of Congress to 
approve the $21 billion in direct grants to support the infrastructure 
development in Iraq in this $87 billion supplemental appropriations.
  First of all, I see no reason why we cannot separate out these two 
items. The $66 billion for defense, which we all support, should be 
made a separate bill. And the $21 billion they want for reconstruction 
in Iraq should be placed in a separate bill, so we can have a debate on 
it. And then we should require Iraqi oil to be used as collateral for 
international loans to finance Iraqi infrastructure projects. And we 
should also ensure Iraq reconstruction contracts are competitively bid.
  Either way, U.S. citizens should not be expected to support Iraqi 
development while many Americans face shortfalls in funding for health 
care, prescription drug coverage, school and road construction, and 
other critical infrastructure improvements.
  Even to come up with this $87 billion for the supplemental 
appropriations for Iraq, the U.S. must borrow the money base we are so 
far in debt thanks to the policies of this administration. We do not 
have the money. We have to borrow it. Yes, Congress must continue to 
work to help, but not at the expense of the Americans here at home and 
our troops abroad.
  Some of my colleagues tonight have talked about waste, fraud and 
abuse; and I think it is shameful when we look at the waste, fraud and 
abuse being put forth by this administration when we look at 
reconstruction for Iraq.
  Just take a look at some of these numbers they have provided us:
  There is $4 million to develop a set of telephone numbers and $150 
million for a national 911. In my district if you want 911, the local 
taxpayers have to do it.
  How about $100 million to build seven planned communities? Each 
community to have 3,258 houses.
  Ten million dollars to finance 100 prison-building experts. We have 
to pay prison-building experts $10 million to tell them how to do it in 
Iraq?
  How about $100 million for 2,000 garbage trucks?
  And then they want $20 million for Afghan consultants, whatever those 
are.
  And we have $850 million for health facility construction and medical 
equipment replacement. What about health care in this country?
  How about $900 million to import petroleum products such as kerosene 
and diesel? Remember, Iraq has the world's second largest oil reserves, 
and we have to import oil products to them?
  The health care provisions alone provide a striking comparison 
between taxpayers' support of Iraqis health care

[[Page H9003]]

and Americans' support for health care.
  You only need to look at the numbers. In Iraq, currently 13 million 
people receive basic access to health care, half the country. One 
hundred percent of the population has maternity care. Every Baghdad 
hospital and clinic is operating. In Detroit, we just had to close down 
two hospitals because we did not have any money.
  There are 7,500 tons of medicine distributed to hospitals and 
clinics, and there are 128 generators and power supplies being 
installed in Iraq.
  Let us go to the United States. Not one new dollar has been spent on 
42 million uninsured Americans.
  There has been no increase for the Maternal and Child Health Block 
Grant or the National Health Service Corps; no increase for the 
childhood immunization program; Congress has underfunded HIV prevention 
and care, and failed to address the Nation's nursing shortage.
  We have no control over runaway healthcare costs and can no longer 
afford prescription drug coverage.
  Instead of again dipping into the pockets of working Americans and 
risking veterans' benefits for our troops when they return home, I 
support proposals to suspend the tax cuts for the top 1 percent of 
income earners to pay for the Bush administration's $87 billion 
supplemental. And I urge Congress to consider my bill, H.R. 3051, to 
include support for our troops in this supplemental aid package to 
Iraq.
  Again, my bill provides a $1,500 bonus to military personnel who 
serve under the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, 
National Guard, or Reserves in a combat zone in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  In the coming year an estimated 150,000 young men and women will not 
see their families, a record number of reservists and guardsmen and 
women will put their private sector opportunities and jobs on hold, and 
thousands of children from every part of America will pray for their 
parents' safe return.
  These extraordinary times, deserve an exemplary measure. I urge you 
to support my bill, H.R. 3051, to provide for our troops in Iraq and 
Afghanistan, and to make it a part of the supplemental appropriations 
bill.
  Give our troops the $1,500 bonus they deserve.

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