[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 86 (Friday, June 24, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H5166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HEALTH CARE FOR VETERANS

  (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, we have been speaking about 
the tragedy in Iraq, the need for a plan, and we have formulated the 
Out of Iraq Caucus that really responds to the American people who have 
lost confidence in the reason why we went to war, some 50 to 60 
percent. And even though we have heard from Secretary Rumsfeld on 
defending the status quo that the insurgent battle has been won, we 
know that the commanding general has said it is ongoing.
  But to add consternation to that, I share with my colleagues that 
funds for health care for veterans is $1 billion. We see here in the 
Washington Post the outrage of Senate Republicans, and I thank the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards) for bringing it to our attention.
  We should not leave this place until we respond to the needs of 
returning veterans who now come home after fighting in Iraq and 
Afghanistan where we are $1 billion short for their care. What are we 
saying to those who are willing to sacrifice their lives on the front 
lines of Iraq and Afghanistan? When they come home with liver disease, 
when they come home with trauma, mental illness, we have no place for 
them to go.

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