[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 145 (Thursday, October 16, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H9487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H9487]]
                    SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL

  (Mr. STUPAK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, today the House of Representatives is 
expected to vote on the President's $87 billion supplemental 
appropriations bill for Iraq.
  This $87 billion is on top of the $79 billion we approved last 
spring.
  This is not an easy vote, and I appreciate hearing from my 
constituents on this issue.
  I have no objection to spending every dime necessary to make sure our 
troops are safe and well-supplied with everything they need to do their 
jobs, but the $18.6 billion in the bill for civilian reconstruction is 
simply too big of a handout.
  Iraq has vast oil reserves, and we should lend the money to Iraq. The 
President has refused to separate the military portion of the bill from 
the reconstruction money.
  I will offer an amendment to set aside enough money to pay a $1,500 
bonus to every serviceman and woman who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  Another amendment would require the use of American steel to be used 
in the rebuilding of Iraqi infrastructure, helping to keep jobs here in 
America.
  Our people at home are hurting for jobs for health care, for quality 
education, prescription drug coverage. I do not believe we can ask them 
to continue to sacrifice even more to assume an enormous additional 
debt for Iraq's civilian reconstruction. That is why I intend to vote 
against the supplemental appropriation bill.

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