[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 27264]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TRULY HONORING AMERICAN VETERANS

  (Mr. DeFAZIO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman that preceded me in the well 
is correct. We should all celebrate Veterans' Day. In fact, we should 
celebrate Veterans' Day and honor Veterans' Day every day in this 
Chamber. But I do remember on the night that the war began in Iraq, we 
passed a resolution supporting the troops and an hour later we passed a 
budget that cut $2 billion out of the veterans budget.
  I do remember that the President proposed doubling the prescription 
drug fee for veterans. I do remember that our veterans, the Democrats 
have offered a proposal to stop taxing disabled veterans, the disabled 
veterans tax. The President has threatened to veto any legislation 
which contains that.
  So although the gentleman can rattle off those great statistics, that 
is not the experience of the veterans in my district. They are waiting 
longer to get minimal service. Fewer of them can get service. They have 
now established a new Category 8 of veterans who cannot get service 
even if they have served with valor in combat.
  It is one thing to get up here and spout statistics and that, but the 
reality is can your veterans get the service they need that we promised 
when they need it; and the answer is for many, no.

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