[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 18]
[House]
[Pages 25389-25390]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    FUNDING FOR VETERANS HEALTH CARE

  (Mr. PEARCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the continued 
politics being played with this year's veterans funding by the majority 
party. Last week, 44 Members of Congress sent a letter to the Speaker 
urging her to immediately bring a conference report on veterans funding 
before the House. Our goal was to pass this funding and avoid the 
political gamesmanship of the appropriation process. Earlier this year, 
the House and Senate both passed veterans funding with overwhelming 
support. The fiscal year ends on Saturday.
  Unfortunately, it has become clear that the top Democratic aides 
intend to hold our veterans hostage. A spokeswoman for the House 
Appropriations Committee called our letter and efforts to pass veterans 
funding immediately just ``a cute diversion.''
  Mr. Speaker, there is nothing cute about withholding funding for 
veterans benefits. There is nothing cute about withholding funding for 
veterans health care. There is nothing cute about Democrats using 
veterans as political pawns in their appropriations strategy.
  I urge my colleagues not to let veterans funding be held hostage any

[[Page 25390]]

longer. Our veterans are saying, don't betray us. Pass the fiscal year 
2008 appropriations.

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