[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 159 (Wednesday, November 5, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            STOP TREATING VETERANS LIKE A LINE IN THE BUDGET

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                         HON. RODNEY ALEXANDER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 5, 2003

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to remind my colleagues 
that our nation made a solemn pledge to our veterans that needs to be 
fulfilled.
  Since the birth of our nation, patriots--citizen soldiers--have 
risked their lives to defend our freedom. They committed their lives to 
our defense and in exchange for that service we, the United States of 
America, committed to care for them and their families.
  Our veterans have kept their promise. For over two centuries the men 
and women in our military have served us well. They've carried a heavy 
burden and sacrificed selflessly to ensure that our country remains a 
stronghold for liberty and freedom for all.
  Unfortunately, we haven't done so well by them. While we have praised 
our troops in times of danger, we all too quickly turn our backs when 
we are safe. Using justifications like a tight economy or higher 
priorities, veterans programs have repeatedly been shortchanged and 
neglected. For over a century disabled veterans have been subjected to 
unfair taxation and worst of all, America has come to regard our 
veterans as just another number in the federal budget.
  In these days of bottom lines and more-bang-for-the-buck we seem to 
have forgotten the truth behind those numbers. Every single veteran is 
a man or woman who has served our country and earned their benefits. I 
represent over fifty thousand veterans; that's not a number; that's 
fifty thousand individual patriots who have sacrificed for us and who 
are now due what we promised them.
  Mr. Speaker, it's time for the United States to stop treating our 
veterans like a line in the budget. We must pay what we owe those brave 
men and women for the service they've given. It's a small price to pay 
for the freedom we enjoy.




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