Date: 2005-05-05
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. it has been 2 years since President Bush stood aboard the USS Lincoln aircraft carrier and declared. "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq. And in those two years it has become increasingly clear that the war in Iraqis far from over. and that the American people are paying the price. Let s just take a look at the facts: There are currently 150.000 American troops now serving in Iraq. including 8.000 Reserve and National Guard troops. Tragically. 1.582 American service members have been killed in the Iraq war. At least 12.243 U.S. troops have been wounded in action. many with grievous injuries that will require a lifetime of medical assistance and other types of support. More than one in five Iraqi war veterans have some type of mental disorder caused by their wartime service. In addition to the cost of life and quality of life for the brave American men and women who are fighting in Iraq. the dollar cost of the war is also taking its toll on the American people. To date. $217 billion in American taxpayer dollars have gone to fund thp war in Iraq. We were told our allies would share the cost of the war. we were told Iraqi oil would pay for the cost of the war. Now it is clear. there was no plan: the American taxpayer is paying for the cost of this war to the tune of $5 billion a month. In fact. todays $82 billion supplemental is the fifth such supplemental Congress has passed at the request of the Bush Administration to fund the war on terror. Thats billions of dollars not spent on pressing problems right here at home. Problems. such as: The price of gas at the pump. Gas prices remain at record levels at $2.24 per gallon nationwide. with some states topping $2.60. That means gas prices have risen 33 cents in just the last two months and are 42 cents a gallon higher than a year ago. The Energy Department predicts that gas prices will climb to a record $2.35 by Memorial Dayaveraging $2.28 this summer. The high cost of health insurance. Health care costs for families have skyrocketed almost 50 percent over the past five years. A lagging economy. The economy grew at just 3.1 percent in the first quarterthe slowest pace in 2 years and down from a 3.8percent pace logged in the final quarter of 2004. Declining wages and benefits. Workers salaries and benefits have suffered the largest 3year decline since 1948 (as a portion of our economy) even as corporate profits continue to rise. Fewer jobs. 446.000 privatesector jobs and 2.8 million manufacturing jobs have been lost. Record budget deficits. This years deficit is on track to reach a record $427 billion. Veterans benefits. Over the next 5 years. the budget for veterans programs. primarily health care. is $14.2 billion below the amount needed to maintain services at current levels. And. record trade deficits. The U.S. trade deficit surged to an alltime high of $61.04 billion in February. Two years after President Bush declared mission accomplished in Iraq. there is still no end in sight. Instead of just signing another multibillion dollar check to the Administration. isnt it time to develop a real plan to stabilize Iraq so we can bring American troops home and concentrate on our problems here at home?