[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 78 (Friday, June 16, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR DEFENSE, THE GLOBAL WAR 
          ON TERROR, AND HURRICANE RECOVERY, 2006--CONFERENCE

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                               speech of

                          HON. HILDA L. SOLIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 12, 2006

  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, the supplemental appropriations legislation 
passed by the House will spend nearly $95 billion of taxpayer money yet 
will not help our veterans, will not secure peace in Iraq, and will not 
make our homeland safer and better for working families.
  The Bush administration continues to underfund the health care 
services for veterans and sent our troops to war without a plan to 
secure the peace. When our servicemen and women return home they are 
returning to a system that cannot care for them or provide the benefits 
they so greatly sacrificed for and deserve. And the hurricane season 
began again on June 1 but this Nation is no closer to be prepared for a 
hurricane under this administration than it was the day before 
Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma struck land. This bill will not resolve 
these issues.
  Instead of passing the biggest supplemental ever passed by Congress, 
Congress should take real steps to help protect our country and ensure 
our veterans and their families receive the care they need. We should 
pass the GI bill of rights for the 21st century to ensure affordable 
and accessible health care, education benefits and job training. We 
need to take seriously the impact of the war on veterans and their 
families and pass legislation I have introduced to ensure access to 
needed mental health counseling. We should develop a real plan to bring 
our troops home safely and secure the peace.
  I strongly support our troops, our veterans and their families and 
will continue to fight to ensure they receive the well-deserved support 
of their country. I will continue to fight to improve the quality of 
life for working families. And I will continue to make sure America is 
a safer place.

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