[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9504]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            NATIONAL FORMER PRISONER OF WAR RECOGNITION DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARION BERRY

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 9, 2003

  Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize those men and women 
who have served our country in battle and have been taken prisoner. 
Today is National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day. It is right 
that we pause to honor the sacrifice of veterans like these.
  However, Mr. Speaker, we must do more than honor these men and women 
with words. Talk is cheap. I rise to talk about the Budget that this 
house passed on March 21. The budget that this House passed hurt 
veterans by proposing long term cuts to essential health care programs. 
I was proud to vote against this budget. However, it is important the 
public fully understand why this budget is so bad for our nation's 
veterans.
  The Budget calls for $28.3 billion dollars to be cut from veterans 
health care and other spending on veterans benefits over the next 10 
years. This is a disgrace. Why is this body going to cut this money? In 
order to pay for a $1.35 trillion tax cut for the wealthiest Americans 
that doesn't create jobs or stimulate the economy.
  So, that means that this Administration and the leadership of the 
House of Representatives has made a choice. They would rather have tax 
cuts for the wealthiest Americans than veterans benefits. Period. No 
other explanation is plausible. It is almost impossible for me to 
believe that as the veterans population rises and ages, that this House 
would eliminate benefits.
  Mr. Speaker, we have men and women on the field of battle in Iraq, 
fighting to make others free. Should we not honor their sacrifice by 
keeping our promises to those that have already served? Should we not 
eliminate these cuts in VA spending? The wealthy need a tax cut less 
than veterans need the health care they were promised. If our society 
has sunk to the point where we are choosing to dishonor service in 
order to make the rich richer, then we surely are not the great nation 
we once were.
  Mr. Speaker, we should honor those who have served, those who were 
POWs, and those that gave the ultimate sacrifice.

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