[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 21]
[House]
[Page 29782]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     HOLDING VETERANS FUNDING HOSTAGE CREATES A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT

  (Mr. BLUNT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, the House passed the Military Construction-
Veterans bill on June 15, over 140 days ago. The Senate passed a bill 
on September 6, sent it over to the House, and immediately appointed 
conferees.
  The minority appointed their conferees. But up to now, we have never 
had conferees appointed on this bill, which means this bill that the 
President has announced he would sign could have become law before 
October 1. It means that military families, veterans, and retirees 
could be receiving the benefits of up to $18.5 million every single day 
since October 1.
  This tactic of holding veterans funding hostage creates a dangerous 
precedent. What controversial, unrelated policies could go on this bill 
in the future?
  Madam Speaker, let's stop this practice today before it starts.

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