[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15670]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




DEMOCRATS HAVE DIFFERENT FISCAL PRIORITIES THAN PRESIDENT BUSH AND SOME 
                              REPUBLICANS

  (Ms. SHEA-PORTER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, President Bush claims there are 
important differences between Democrats and Republicans when it comes 
to spending and he is right. For 6 long years, President Bush and the 
Republican rubber-stamp Congress slashed budgets in critical areas such 
as health care, college aid and support for our veterans.
  For years, Republicans have cut veterans health care funding and 
budgeted billions less than they need. Last year, Republicans failed to 
even pass a bill to fund the Department of Veterans Affairs. Imagine 
that, did not even pass a bill.
  After 6 years of Republican damage, Democrats will do things 
differently. This week, we begin to invest in America's priorities, and 
we're fiscally responsible.
  While President Bush and the Republican Congress ignored the needs of 
America's veterans, the Democratic House will bring a bill to the floor 
that includes the largest increase in funding for veterans health care 
in the 77-year history of the VA.
  Today, I would hope that this entire House would support our veterans 
by supporting this bill. It is long overdue, but the Democrats intend 
to deliver like our troops deserve.

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