[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 160 (Thursday, November 6, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2270]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    LETTER FROM JEFFREY DAVID HARVEY

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                           HON. JOHN L. MICA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 6, 2003

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, President Bush today signs for $87 billion to 
aid our United States Military and assist both Iraq and Afghanistan. I 
wanted to include in the record a copy of a letter I received from a 
young man who served as a Congressional Intern. Jeff states much better 
than anyone why today's action by Congress and President Bush is 
necessary.

       Dear Congressman Mica: I don't know if you remember me, but 
     I worked as an unpaid intern in your Casselberry office about 
     7 years ago. Right now I am in Northern Iraq with the 101st 
     Airborne Division. I have been with the Division during the 
     entire war and also served in Afghanistan for a few months 
     with the division's 3rd brigade Rakkasans.
       I am writing to you because I am concerned about the debate 
     over the cost of rebuilding Iraq. From what I see on the 
     news, people back home, especially the Democratic candidates 
     for President, have not put two and two together. They 
     complain about the attacks and the danger to our troops, but 
     yet they do not want to give the cause any more money. We are 
     in support of stability operations. There is no field manual 
     on the things we are doing here but rebuilding a country is 
     something that takes time. Relationships must be formed. With 
     that, America has to realize that the fighting is still going 
     on. We are fighting for the hearts and minds of the Iraqi 
     people. Our ammunition is therefore money. I am in charge of 
     multiple renovation and reconstruction projects and each one 
     takes money to complete.
       The last few weeks, the money source has been cut off, and 
     I am sure the debate over how much to spend is a leading 
     cause to this. I have met many Iraqis that are growing 
     impatient, asking for work, wanting to do anything to feed 
     their family. Sir, please let your fellow Representatives and 
     Senators know that if we are going remain here, fighting for 
     the hearts and minds of the Iraqis, we need to have the 
     ammunition to support it. We have to have money to help 
     rebuild the country, put people to work and get the economy 
     going. I am certain that by doing the right thing for these 
     people now, it will pay off in the long run. WWII was not 
     fought because of the concentration camps and the social 
     injustices in Germany, but looking back now, that is cited as 
     probably the most important good that came out of it. This 
     war was fought for many reasons, but WMD or not, the mass 
     graves and the social injustices by the old regime have 
     ceased. Iraq's new found freedom far outweighs any sacrifices 
     that myself or my men had to make by coming here. All we want 
     to do is to finish the job that we started.
       Please urge those on the Hill to support the troops, not 
     just in voice but in action. I appreciate you listening to 
     what I have to say.
           Sincerely,
                                             Jeffrey David Harvey,
     1LT, FA.

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