[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 22]
[House]
[Page 30590]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      SEND H.R. 4104 TO PRESIDENT

  (Mr. WICKER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WICKER. Madam Speaker, House Democrats have failed in their 
misguided attempt to hold veterans spending hostage. Yesterday the 
Senate voted to delink the MilCon-VA bill from the Labor-HHS conference 
report. The Senate's action was commendable and should have been 
expected.
  Veterans groups from around the Nation have made it clear it is wrong 
and cynical to use their bill for political purposes. Now the 
Democratic majority is saying they will not even try to have this vital 
legislation on the President's desk by Veterans Day. But there is a way 
out of this box.
  Yesterday, I introduced the MilCon-VA conference agreement as a 
stand- alone bill, H.R. 4104. It is identical to the bill already 
agreed upon by House and Senate negotiators. It could be passed today 
by unanimous consent and immediately sent to the Senate.
  Members who are tired of the political games should cosponsor this 
bill and urge Speaker Pelosi to take it up today.

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