[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17217]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2004

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 26, 2003

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2559) making 
     appropriations for military construction, family housing, and 
     base realignment and closure for the Department of Defense 
     for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mrs. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, many of us will spend part of the 
Independence Day work period at ceremonies marking the heroism of our 
service men and women, and the sacrifices of their families. If we were 
to ask any military commander present at those ceremonies, What is the 
most important aspect of leadership? The answer would be: First, take 
care of the troops.
  This bill provides an opportunity for the House to exhibit that kind 
of leadership, the opportunity to take care of our troops. Instead, 
sadly, it is another missed opportunity.
  If military quality of life issues were a priority, we would not be 
considering a Military Construction Appropriations Bill that is $1.5 
billion below last year's funding level, but we would be passing Mr. 
Obey's amendment, which would help nearly 8,000 service members and 
their families get the housing they deserve.
  Instead, we pass resolutions that talk about supporting the military 
and then refuse to provide that support in the appropriations bills.
  Active and retired military personnel and their families have been 
among the victims of the irresponsible and fiscally unsound budget and 
tax policies of the Republican majority. If putting the troops and 
their families first were a Republican priority, they would not have 
submitted a budget that continues the tax on disabled veterans, that 
cuts veterans benefits, and that impacts aid. And they would not have 
approved a tax cut that takes care of the children of the wealthy few 
while ignoring 250,000 children of active duty military personnel.
  That is a regrettable message to send to the troops just days before 
the Fourth of July.

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