[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 41 (Friday, March 9, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H2344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    OPPOSE THE WAR FUNDING PROPOSAL

  (Mr. SMITH of Nebraska asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call on my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do what is right and pass a 
clean supplemental.
  The bill unveiled yesterday would tie our military leaders' hands at 
the very time they need our support the most. Some want to set a date 
certain. The reality is the only certain part of this plan is that 
President Bush has threatened to veto the bill, and critical funding 
for our troops would be needlessly delayed.
  This plan is dangerous, and I would urge all of my colleagues to 
oppose this war funding proposal. Even Members of the majority party 
are reacting negatively to the proposal, as well they should.
  Everyone agrees that we must make progress in Iraq. We also agree the 
Iraqi Government must step up and improve the situation. What the 
Republicans are going to stand against is tying the funds our soldiers 
need to do their jobs to benchmarks thought up by special interest 
groups.
  Our men and women in uniform deserve the best, and a haphazard 
approach is not it. We can do better. We must do better.

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