[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 28370]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             THIS IS DAY 25

  (Mrs. DRAKE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, this is day 25. That is 25 days, so far, 
that our veterans have not had the use of the increased funding for 
their benefits and health care. That is $18.5 million a day not able to 
be used. And why? Because the Democratic leadership has decided to not 
complete this bill and send it to the President, who has agreed to sign 
it.
  In June this House passed this appropriation bill with a $6 billion 
increase in a bipartisan manner. We were proud of our work and grateful 
to our veterans.
  On September 6, the Senate completed their bill.
  This work is done. Our veterans are not pawns in a political game. 
They are heroes.
  America expects us to get the job done. America expects us to provide 
the best care to our veterans.
  Please join me in calling upon the Democratic leadership to put our 
veterans first and send this bill to the President now.

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