[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 168 (Thursday, December 22, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2640-E2641]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2863, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS 
                               ACT, 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Sunday, December 18, 2005

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, shame! That is all I can say--both on the 
way the Republican leadership has governed this country this year--and 
on how they are using the troops as a political tool to provide huge 
taxpayer benefits to the oil and gas industry.
  Over 2,100 Americans killed in Iraq, and the Republican leadership 
waits until the last night of Congress--3 months after we needed to 
fund the military--to pass the spending bill for our troops.
  This is called a ``must pass'' bill, as it is one Congress MUST pass 
as if we don't, the military will literally run out of money and not be

[[Page E2641]]

able to pay our troops, buy supplies and give them shelter.
  Specifically, the facts show that without passing this bill, our 
military is slated to run out of money for Iraq operations in January.
  What does this mean? It means the curtailment of training and 
equipment maintenance activities in the United States to better prepare 
our troops.
  It means that contracts will be severely delayed or canceled to 
provide body armor, armored vehicles, jammers, and radios needed in the 
field to keep these guys not only protecting our security but 
protecting their own lives.
  But the politicians in Washington, many of whom have never worn the 
uniform and have done a heck of a job to avoid service, now stand proud 
and mighty saying they are working for these troops safety.
  And they will again use our troops as a prop to make their so-called 
case.
  But the facts are the troops are the last things on the mind of the 
White House and this shameful Republican Congress.
  This Republican Congress and this Bush White House has continually 
underfunded our troops and used them as a political prop.
  Remember ``Mission Accomplished'' anyone?!?
  If Congress cared about our military so, outside of props and 
campaign commercials, why is this bill 3 months behind schedule?
  Why is this bill being used to provide a multi-billion gift to the 
nation's biggest gas companies, by allowing them to drill in Alaska?
  The Republican Leadership attached the can't pass ANWR provision to 
this must pass bill in the ultimate example of politics gone wrong.
  By not giving us the ability to vote on ANWR alone, this does not 
mean that we approve of this misguided policy.
  I thought they were making enough profits off Americans at the pump 
now--but Congress and the White House think they can make more money 
for the ExxonMobils of the world--this time off the backs and lives of 
our troops fighting overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  This is the most shameful act I have seen in the most corrupt 
Congress in American history.
  This year America has seen the Republican Majority Leader of the 
House of Representatives Tom DeLay be indicted on money laundering 
charges.
  America has seen the Republican Majority Leader of the Senate Bill 
Frist under investigation for criminal charges--charges like those that 
sent Martha Stewart to jail.
  America has seen a senior Republican Congressman from California, 
Randy Cunningham, take over $2 million in bribes through war-
profiteering using information he gathered on the House Intelligence 
Committee.
  He sold this confidential information to the highest bidder, but this 
Congress won't even seize his 6-figure, taxpayer-financed annual 
pension.
  America has seen the U.S. Congress put up for sale to the highest 
bidder by people like Jack Abramoff and Mike Scanlon.
  But tonight, we are seeing something far worse and far more depraved, 
the complete politicization of our troops, serving in war time, to 
provide a boon to the oil and gas industry.
  There is more shame to go around Congress now than indictments, and 
that is saying something today in Washington. The Republicans are 
holding funding for our military, funding for body armor, funding for 
security for military personnel hostage to keep the world safe for the 
profits of big energy.

  And for that you pay $2.35 a gallon for gas!
  Regardless of what one thinks of the war, we need to protect our sons 
and daughters fighting over there.
  But again, this bill and this Administration falls short, using 
politics over policy; using political consultants over generals to 
fight a war.
  Who loses? Our troops lose. Their families lose. America loses.
  But this bill again reflects the warped priorities of the Bush 
Administration.
  While I am angry about this process and this bill, I will reluctantly 
vote for it as our men and women in military need these funds 
immediately--even with these shameful additions.
  I won't play the Republicans' game and hold our troops hostage, but I 
hope the Republicans in Congress and the White House who use our 
military as a political sound bite or tool to pass their own unrelated 
items recognize they represent the worst of America.
  The blood of American men and women is on their hands for their 
politics of delay, diversion and division.
  I yield back what shame is left in this corrupt institution.

                          ____________________