[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 171 (Tuesday, November 6, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H12749]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1100
                   STILL WAITING FOR VETERANS FUNDING

  (Mr. PEARCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PEARCE. Madam Speaker, 40 years ago I won the lottery. That was 
the draft lottery and I was able to serve in Vietnam because I did win 
that. An entire generation of young men and women did the same; yet 
today the majority is playing games with our veterans, who sacrificed 
so much back then.
  Today marks the 37th day past the fiscal year that Congress has 
failed to pass veterans funding. We are losing $18.5 million a day.
  I hold two copies that I will insert into the Record. These letters 
were signed by 89 Members and asked the Speaker and majority leader in 
the Senate to put aside partisan gamesmanship and bring a stand-alone 
veterans bill to the floor. Since I wrote these letters, weeks have 
passed, a fiscal year has run out, and our veterans are still waiting 
on us to finalize a bill to provide the funding for their benefit.
  Madam Speaker, it is time for us to do our job. Let's fulfill the 
promises we made to our veterans. Let's remember those who have served 
honorably, and let's treat them honorably.

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