[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 7917]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               OPPOSING PROPOSED CUTS IN VETERAN PROGRAMS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of 
January 7, 2003, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise today to add my comments to 
the chorus of dismay and opposition to the proposed cuts in veteran 
programs and benefits that we are currently hearing about in this 
country proposed by the President and approved by the Republican 
majority of this House.
  Many families in my district have sons and daughters, husbands and 
wives, family members, that are in the military and in this current 
conflict that this country finds itself in. Presently I have the 
responsibility to communicate to some of these families about the 
death, the serious life-threatening injuries and the missing-in-action 
status of some of their family members. I relate to them my personal 
respect, gratitude and sorrow at their anguish and at their sacrifice.
  Yet, while I am doing that, I find it unconscionable that while our 
men and women are fighting overseas, following the orders of their 
Commander-in-Chief, we at home are reducing the health care benefits 
that our veterans have earned while risking and giving their lives in 
the service of this country, in the protection of our freedoms and in 
the extension of the liberties that we all enjoy.
  How can we possibly justify the budget as passed by this House that 
contains almost $29 billion in cuts in veterans' programs over a 10 
year period, primarily in veterans benefits and health care. What are 
we going to tell the men and women presently in uniform and their 
families; that their service is honorable, needed, and respected, but 
not worth the cost of full benefits for them and their future?
  Mr. Speaker, today I would urge all of my colleagues to restore and 
enhance the benefits and programs that have been earned by our veterans 
and cut by the President and this Congress. To do otherwise would be an 
appalling betrayal of America's commitments to our veterans.
  At a time of war, let us not be hypocritical. Let us respect and 
enhance the benefits of our veterans, so as they sacrifice for us, as 
they follow the orders of their Commander-in-Chief, they will earn not 
only our respect, but entitlement to benefits and protection of 
programs that will extend and support their quality of life.

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