[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 101 (Friday, July 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1274]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2012

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                               speech of

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 7, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2219) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 2012, and for other purposes:

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chair, American children have 
already been the victims of the Republicans' inaction and spending 
cuts, and now the Republicans are specifically targeting the children 
of military families. The Flake Amendment to H.R. 2219 cuts $250 
million of critical funding for public schools on military 
installations.
  These schools and families are already in dire need of support. 
Impact aid is provided to these schools as compensation for the federal 
activities that render them unable to collect property or other taxes 
to fund these schools. This is one of the oldest education programs 
administered in the United States, and these schools and families 
depend on these funds.
  The men and women of our armed services make great sacrifices to keep 
our country safe. They deserve better from this Congress. They do not 
deserve to have their children's education sacrificed as well. I urge 
my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the Flake amendment to cut impact aid.

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