[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1732-E1733]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2361, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
       ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 28, 2005

  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
support for the Senate passed amendment to the Interior Appropriations 
bill to include $1.5 billion in emergency supplemental funding to the 
veterans budget.
  However, this funding comes more than a month late. We had a chance 
to get this emergency spending to the people who need the funding 
before we left for the July Fourth recess.
  After the budget shortfall was announced, both sides of the aisle in 
the Senate came together to take immediate action to address this 
issue. They passed a $1.5 billion emergency funding amendment to 
immediately get the funds to the people who need it, our veterans, 
those who have defended this Nation against its enemies.
  As we have seen by the slow movement of these badly needed funds, all 
Republicans do is talk, when it comes to a veteran in need.
  The Republican Leadership in the House decided to sit on their hands 
and wait for President Bush to pull a number out of the air. That 
number was $975 million.
  However, it turns out that the Bush level was $300 million short to 
fund veterans health.
  This would be a good start to resolving the funding crisis in 
veterans healthcare, but I know this administration will continue to 
try to balance the budget on the backs of the men and women who have 
sacrificed to defend this great Nation of ours.
  The Fiscal Year 2006 budget is short, and the FY 2007 budget is being 
calculated as we stand here.
  Let this be the beginning of full funding for veterans healthcare, 
now and in the future.

[[Page E1733]]



                          ____________________