[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 55 (Thursday, March 29, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4134-S4135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, the fiscal year 2007 Emergency Supplemental 
Appropriations bill, just approved by the Senate, includes over $96 
billion for the troops. It includes increases above the President's 
request for the Department of Defense, including increases of $1.3 
billion for defense health, $1 billion for equipping the National Guard 
and Reserve, and $1.1 billion for military housing.
  The bill includes $6.7 billion for rebuilding the gulf coast region 
following Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. It includes $4.2 billion 
for agricultural disaster relief. It includes nearly $1.8 billion for 
the VA to make sure that we meet our moral obligation to provide first-
class health care to our wounded veterans.
  Most importantly, with passage of this bill, the Senate sends a clear 
message to the President that we must take the war in Iraq in a new 
direction. Setting a goal for getting most of our troops out of Iraq is 
not cutting and running. The new direction provides incentives to the 
Iraqi people to settle their differences, to end their civil war, and 
to pursue reconciliation. One fact is plainly clear: The President 
wants to run his war his way, without anyone asking any questions or 
requiring any standards of progress.
  That is the kind of attitude that has resulted in the chaos we see in 
Iraq each day. President Bush does not want anyone to hold him 
accountable for the failures in Iraq. He does not want anyone to hold 
him responsible for our troops remaining caught in the escalating Iraqi 
civil war. The President has his eyes closed to the truth in Iraq.
  Let me read excerpts from a letter I recently received from soldiers 
serving in and around Baghdad:

       We write you this letter. . . , Senator Byrd, because of 
     your prominent role as Chairman of the Appropriations 
     Committee, and because of your documented observation of the 
     alarming lack of debate within the Senate over the Iraq War.
       So much of the controversy surrounding the proposed surge 
     strategy has hinged on ``support for our troops.'' Yet, the 
     voice of the individual trooper is not heard. As volunteer 
     members of the military, we waive certain civil rights. We 
     cannot quit. We have a legal and moral responsibility to 
     carry out

[[Page S4135]]

     the orders given. We offer our bodies and minds, but 
     sacrifice our voices. Our voice is in our vote. Last 
     November, we voted for a Congress that would halt the 
     disastrous Iraq War. . . .
       Some of us are on our first tour, some our second or third, 
     and for one of us, fifth. We have done our duty, and will 
     continue to do so until our obligation is complete. Upon 
     completion of our obligation, we hope to close this unhappy 
     chapter in our lives and move forward. . . .
       Listening to the ongoing debate in the news, and the 
     conflicting views of our lawmakers, we hear again and again 
     accusations by one side of the other side's desire to 
     undercut the troops. We see these accusations as moral 
     blackmail. For it is overwhelmingly clear from all of our 
     experiences that despite the unpopularity of this war, the 
     American people have provided unfaltering moral support to 
     the men and women of the military. We implore lawmakers 
     to abandon these hollow accusations, and to focus on the 
     national interest as a whole. We earnestly hope for the 
     enactment of the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, 
     particularly those concerning the de-escalation of the war 
     and direct diplomatic engagement of Syria and Iran. We 
     encourage Congress to obstruct the escalation of this war 
     by any means possible.

  Continuing to read from the letter, these solders said:

       Since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, we have 
     become painfully aware of our own vulnerability. We have 
     spent vast resources preparing for unknown disaster, fighting 
     an enemy that is ubiquitous, but not clearly defined. We are 
     fighting the specter of fear. This is an internal struggle 
     that we must reconcile. Our vision of the future has grown 
     clouded and ominous. We face a situation in Iraq that leaves 
     us with little hope for a satisfying outcome. As a nation, we 
     must recover from the trauma of 9/11 and abandon the 
     misguided policies we have pursued in its wake. Using the 
     military as our primary foreign policy tool has isolated us 
     and fueled worldwide resentment of us, and has not increased 
     our sense of security. Halting the Iraq war is America's 
     opportunity to change direction, to reengage the world, and 
     discourage terrorism and extremism by showing the world the 
     ingenuity of our people and our commitment to freedom and 
     democracy.

  These are the written words of soldiers now serving in Iraq.
  The American people want our troops out of Iraq. The Congress has 
said very clearly that we want our military to refocus on Osama bin 
Laden and his terrorist bases in Afghanistan. The President has said he 
will veto this bill. His administration has asserted that adding funds 
for caring for our wounded veterans, for rebuilding the gulf coast, for 
securing the homeland, and for agricultural disaster assistance is 
playing politics. What nonsense. With approval of this bill, Congress 
will have appropriated $448 billion for the war in Iraq, including $38 
billion for rebuilding Iraq. Certainly if we can spend $38 billion on 
rebuilding Baghdad, we can spend money on rebuilding the gulf coast, 
taking care of our veterans and protecting our agricultural economy.
  I hope that the President will drop his rhetoric and instead work 
with Congress to craft a responsible plan to transition our forces from 
Iraq and refocus on bin Laden and his base of operations.
  Instead of demonizing the Congress and engaging in rhetorical finger-
pointing, the President ought to work with Congress on legislation that 
is in the best interests of the country. I want to thank Senator 
Cochran, Senator Murray, Senator Reid, and Senator McConnell for their 
efforts this week in moving this bill through the Senate. I also want 
to thank the Appropriations Committee staff, including Terry Sauvain, 
Charles Kieffer, Peter Rogoff, B.G. Wright, Kate Fitzpatrick, Bruce 
Evans, Blake Thompson, and all of the Subcommittee staffs for their 
hard work on this bill.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak in 
morning business for up to 15 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (The remarks of Mr. BROWNBACK pertaining to the introduction of S. 
1036 are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced 
Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. BROWNBACK. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. COLEMAN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. McCaskill). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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