[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 21, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H2204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   URGING APOLOGY FROM THE PRESIDENT

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I do not think anything can 
negate the fact that this President has lost more jobs, 3 million jobs, 
than any President in our history.
  But, Mr. Speaker, I stand today to offer a word of condolence, but 
also to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in Iraq, the men 
and women of the United States military, innocent citizens, and to 
challenge the President, as the 9/11 Commission families have 
challenged him, to apologize to the American people for misdirecting 
men and women of the military, now reservists and National Guard, young 
men and women, into a war that one wonders whether it matters, into a 
war where there was not the kind of equipment that those soldiers 
needed, reinforced Humvees and other equipment, flak jackets that they 
needed.
  I am here to apologize and ask the President that he provide the 
necessary resources for these troops so that lives will not continue to 
be lost, so that mothers and fathers, wives and relatives will not have 
to continue to mourn. It is a tragedy the policy that we have seen in 
this United States, a policy of reckless direction of men and women in 
war, bloodshed unnecessary.
  Mr. President and the administration, Mr. Vice President, we need a 
plan, and you need to offer it to the American people now.

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