[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 758-759]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                         SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, there has been wide political discussion 
recently on the imperative nature of support for our troops. Yesterday, 
unexpectedly, Senators from the Democrat Party used strong rhetoric in 
discussing the needed support for both our military and our veterans. 
These are wonderful comments of support, but they must not stop as mere 
comments. This should be a matter of bipartisan support.
  I was in the United States Army on active duty from 1978 to 1982. I 
personally believe President Carter was one of the most honest, caring, 
and decent Presidents we have ever had; but his administration was 
exceedingly weak in its support for the military and for its veterans. 
Terrorists were sent a clear message when his administration failed to 
respond in any meaningful way after U.S. soil was attacked and 
terrorists took U.S. hostages who were held for over a year. The U.S. 
appeared to be a toothless, hapless, spineless paper tiger.
  At Fort Benning, Georgia, we in the United States Army saw the dawn 
of a new day with the Reagan administration. We began to see supply 
requests met, improved conditions, and, yes, much better morale. We had 
a President who meant what he said and he said he supported the 
military. President Reagan kept his promises. However, under the 
President in office during the 1990s, the military budget was again 
severely cut.

[[Page 759]]

  Once again my friends who remained in the military could feel the 
renewed respect and help for the military when President George W. Bush 
took office. Not only has the military been much better equipped and 
supplied, but also the Republican-controlled Congress has been 
increasing veterans' benefits. In fact, since Republicans took control 
of Congress there has been a 58 percent increase in veterans funding.
  Just as the vast cuts during the Carter administration depleted and 
drained the strength of the U.S. military, during the 1990s the White 
House bragged of vast cuts in government when, in fact, the only true 
cuts were in military personnel. As a result of those cuts during the 
1990s, George W. Bush's administration found itself, just as President 
Reagan had, battling to rebuild military strength.
  We in this Republican-controlled Congress have done that and continue 
to do that along with some other friends. If yesterday's speeches were 
heartfelt, and there truly is a desire among Senators across the aisle 
to strengthen the military, to protect those who are protecting us and 
to keep and help our courageous veterans, I say, with arms open wide, 
Welcome to the Republican agenda.

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