[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9205]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 DEMOCRATS TAKE IRAQ IN A NEW DIRECTION WHILE PRESIDENT BUSH THREATENS 
                           TO VETO NEW COURSE

  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, the new Democratic Congress has made good on 
its promise to change the direction of the war in Iraq while providing 
critical funding for our veterans and our wounded soldiers. Yet, the 
President is still threatening to veto a final conference report when 
it comes out of this Congress.
  Why would the President veto a bill that requires Iraqis to take 
control of their country by meeting key security, political and 
economic benchmarks the President himself established?
  Why would he veto a bill that provides greater protections for our 
troops and our veterans than what was originally requested by the 
President?
  The supplemental provides 1.7 billion more for military health care, 
which includes facility upgrades at Walter Reed and other hospitals 
that require renovation. We also provide an additional $1.7 billion for 
veterans health care to ensure that they have access to quality care. 
The veterans I have met with from New Jersey have told me that this is 
one of their top priorities.
  I have been opposed to the preemptive war in Iraq from the beginning 
because the administration has failed to explore diplomatic solutions. 
And therefore the stay-the-course strategy is wrong. And I hope that 
the President will sign and not veto this bill.

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