[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 51 (Friday, April 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E680]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND FURTHER ADDITIONAL CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS 
                               ACT, 2011

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                               speech of

                             HON. MO BROOKS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 7, 2011

  Mr. BROOKS. Madam Speaker, let's remind everyone why we are here. We 
are here because we are trying to save our federal government from 
unsustainable budget deficits. During the regime of Nancy Pelosi as 
House Speaker, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, we have had four 
consecutive budget deficits that average $1.2 trillion a year. Those 
are unsustainable. They threaten our federal government's solvency. We 
are facing a national bankruptcy.
  What are Republicans in the House trying to do today? We are trying 
to protect our troops who are in Afghanistan and Iraq so they don't 
have to worry about whether their homes are going to be foreclosed on 
as they are off doing battle and their kids and spouses are at home. 
For example, I met a lady from Colony, Alabama who has two young 
children, twins, age three, and she is fighting on behalf of our 
country. If our troops are forced to work without pay, then, in 
addition to everything else, she will have to worry about whether her 
young children will be financially taken care of at home. I ask that 
this House and this Senate do what we should do, and that is to protect 
our troops by funding them adequately. Don't leave them in the position 
where they are not able to take care of their own people at home.

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