[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9790-9791]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        AMERICA LOVES HER TROOPS

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to confirm my support 
for the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act that we just 
passed unanimously in this House.
  I rise to answer the question of the chairman of the Committee on 
Appropriations and say resoundingly that America loves her troops, 
loves the young men and women who are serving, respects them, and 
offers our sympathy to those who lost their lives, their love to those 
who are now mending. And, as well, we will never forget our MIAs and 
POWs.
  I, too, have visited our troops in our hospitals in this region, 
visited the Veterans Hospital, reinforced the fact that we believe in 
those who have been willing to offer the ultimate sacrifice.
  I think it is important today, Mr. Speaker, to acknowledge as well 
that the beauty of America is that we acknowledge and appreciate 
dissent. Just

[[Page 9791]]

a few blocks away today there are protesters against the continuation 
of this war. There will be those who will be promoting and supporting 
the troops. I agree with both because America is a place that fondles 
and cherishes its democracy. I have dissented against the war, but I 
have not dissented against America or its troops, and I believe in 
order to be prosperous we must work together, as we have done in this 
emergency wartime supplemental which I have supported, so we can have a 
lasting peace.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman of the Committee on 
Appropriations and the ranking member and all the staff for their 
steadfastness. I want to thank them for providing to airline employees 
the 26 extra weeks that we fought for since September 11. Many have 
been laid off and not working.

                              {time}  1245

  I want to thank them, as well, for the homeland security moneys that 
will help some of our cities and rural areas, and I want to fight with 
them for more money for the many cities who have paid out moneys, Mr. 
Speaker, and have yet not been able to be reimbursed.
  I would like to thank them in particular for the judgment that they 
have used with the defense funds so that there is not such a 
discretion, but it has been put in certain position to be oversight, or 
given oversight by this Congress. I would like to thank them for 
recognizing the importance, Mr. Speaker, of the need to provide for the 
Coast Guard and to provide for the first responders.
  Mr. Speaker, as I close, we are not yet finished with this work, and 
I would hope that we will go forward supporting our troops and, as 
well, supporting America in its effort for long-lasting peace that will 
only make us the great Nation that our promise indicates we can be.

                          ____________________