[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 145 (Thursday, October 16, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2059]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
       FORCES FROM PAYING SUBSISTENCE CHARGES WHILE HOSPITALIZED

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                               speech of

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 8, 2003

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my 
strongest possible support for H.R. 2998, and urge my colleagues to 
join me in passing this important legislation.
  I am extremely pleased that the leadership has brought this bill to 
the floor today, but I am thoroughly confused as to why the Department 
of Defense has even made this legislation necessary. It is absolutely 
mind-boggling that they charge military personnel for meals while they 
are hospitalized with injuries suffered while in combat or training.
  Mr. Speaker, on September 24 we passed the conference report for the 
FY04 Defense Appropriations bill, which provided appropriations for the 
DoD totaling $368 billion dollars. This figure marked an increase of 
approximately $13 billion for the DoD. I voted in support of this 
conference report because I felt that it provided important funding for 
our troops and for the war on terrorism, but I cannot believe that the 
DoD, with around $355 billion in funds for FY03, could possibly charge 
these men and women for the meals they eat while they recover from 
injuries. This is unconscionable, and I thank Mr. Young for introducing 
his legislation to remedy this outrage.
  I am a cosponsor of this legislation and I will most certainly be 
voting in support of its passage. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
support of our troops and to correct this ridiculous situation.

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