[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 104 (Monday, July 13, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1730-E1731]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010

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                               speech of

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 10, 2009

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3082) making 
     appropriations for military construction, the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes:

  Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Chair, the increases in funding for veterans 
services contained in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs 
Appropriations bill are overdue and welcome. It continues increases in 
veterans' health care funding by providing $53 billion for the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. It also provides advanced 
appropriations for FY 2011 for medical accounts. I have long supported 
advance appropriations for veterans because it helps to stabilize 
funding instability and ultimately results in higher quality care for 
veterans. The bill provides $3.2 billion, a 40 percent increase over 
last year, to combat homelessness. It provides $4.6 billion for mental 
health care to help address the rising incidence of Post Traumatic 
Stress Disorder in our newer veterans. It provides for the hiring of 
1,200 additional claims processors to continue to work to eliminate the 
backlog of benefits claims.
  Unfortunately, the bill also includes funds for building extensive 
infrastructure to support our military operations in Afghanistan. It is 
clear that this construction will support the expansion of ongoing 
operations in the region. This is particularly troubling because the 
Administration is still without an exit strategy for Afghanistan. 
Additionally, U.S. presence in the region has served to foment anti-
American sentiment. I remain concerned that this combination of factors 
will not ensure U.S. ``success'' in the region but will ensure that the 
months and perhaps years ahead will be

[[Page E1731]]

deadly for our brave troops and for the Afghan people.
  It is unacceptable to fund a more permanent presence in Afghanistan 
in a bill that gives our veterans services they need. Our veterans 
deserve more than we could ever repay. I must support this bill.

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