[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 87 (Monday, June 27, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN OPPOSITION TO THE ONGOING WAR IN IRAQ

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                          HON. HILDA L. SOLIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 27, 2005

  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in opposition to the ongoing 
war in Iraq.
  The Bush Administration has no plan to secure peace in Iraq and has 
refused to develop a comprehensive exit strategy which ensures the safe 
return of our troops. When our troops return home, this Administration 
also has refused to provide the care and services that our veterans 
need and deserve.
  Since President Bush stood on an aircraft carrier to declare the end 
of ``combat,'' more than 13,000 troops have been injured--nearly half 
have sustained such severe injuries that prevent them from returning to 
combat. More than 1,730 servicemembers have died. These servicemen and 
women are more than just casualty statistics. They have families; they 
are mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, daughters and sons. They 
have families, they are mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, 
daughters and sons. And they all have Members of Congress who are 
supposed to represent their best interests.
  I represent 10 brave servicemen who did not return to their families, 
nor the life they knew before the war. They are Marine Corporal Jorge 
A. Gonzalez, Army Sergeant Atanasio I Haromarin, Army Private First 
Class Jose Casanova, Marine Private First Class Francisco A. Martinez 
Flores, Army Specialist Leroy Harris-Kelly III, Marine Corporal Rudy 
Salas, Lance Corporal Benjamin M. Gonzalez, Lance Corporal Manuel A. 
Ceniceros, Specialist Private First Class Marcos O. Nolasco, and 
Corporal Stephen P. Johnson. These men, our fallen soldiers, are 
heroes.
  I have many constituents serving our Nation in Iraq and around the 
world. Many of them do not even have their U.S. citizenship, yet they 
put their lives on the line in defense of our Nation. In fact, more 
than 50,000 green card soldiers are proudly serving this Nation as part 
of the U.S. military.
  Our troops continue to do their commitment and duty to our country. 
However, this Administration and the military's leadership have failed 
in their responsibility to our troops. To date, there is no strategy to 
ensure that our troops return home. There is a $1 billion shortfall for 
veterans care. When these troops return home they are returning to a 
system that cannot care for them or provide the benefits they so 
greatly sacrificed for and deserve.
  Ultimately, a successful Iraq is an Iraq run by Iraqis, not the U.S. 
military. We owe Iraqis a peaceful nation. And, we owe our troops a 
secure return home to a grateful Nation and a secure future. This 
mission will not be complete until each one of our servicemen and women 
are home, something I strongly believe needs to happen soon. Tonight I 
am proud to stand alongside my colleagues in honoring our fallen 
heroes. We owe it to them, their families and active service members at 
home and abroad to have a strategy to bring the troops home.

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