Date: 2005-03-17
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentleman from North Carolina and the gentleman from Virginia . Their budget and our budget really is the compassionate budget that is fiscally responsible. I have comments from the American Legion. from the national legislative director of AMVETS. from the national legislative director of the Disabled American Veterans. from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. I just want to paraphrase what they said: We think cutting veterans benefits. talking about the majority budget. is. and I paraphrase. unacceptable. especially at a time when American soldiers. sons and daughters. are being wounded and killed every day in Iraq. In addition. it appears that this pattern of shortchanging veterans medical care continues in the 109th Congress. American veterans and their families deserve better. Let me just give a few examples of how we strengthen one national defense. I will put all of it in the RECORD. but clearly in this House. in closing. bnly~the big dogs eat in this House. I rise strongly to support the Congressional Black Caucus Budget. We are truly the conscience of this Congress. This budget represents true compassion with fiscal responsibility. It includes increases in programs that the American people believe in and that the Republicans just give lip service to. Our budget includes increased funding for: education programs. school construction. job creation programs. child nutrition programs. community health centers. and Amtrak. which 800.000 Americans use to get to work. and whose budget got Zeroed out by this foolish Administration. And unlike the Republicans. it doesnt balance the budget on the backs of the veterans. the homeless. seniors. and the poor. In the -Republicans House. the Big Dogs Eat first. and everyone else has to get in line. Do the right thing for the American people. Support the Congressional Black Caucus Budget. I would like to thank Mr. WATT and Mr. SCOTT for their hard work on putting the CBC alternative budget together. If we do not take care of our veterans now. we will not have the boots on the ground in the future to respond to any attack against us or our allies. This budget straightens our priorities to in- All of the funds reduced from Ballistic Mis- curity needs ($2.05 billion). and veterans proclude both defending our country and the free- sile Defense are reallocated within various grams and benefits ($4.65 billion). All calfunctions to provide for additional support culations are for changes above/below prodon it che es and giving our veterans the for the troops in Iraq and other defense posed Fiscal Year 2006 levels included in the chance they need to succeed once they leave items necessary to maintain our military Republican budget. the service. strength and jobs ($1.1 billion). homeland seNational Defense: Body armor. personal support equipment. and other protective gear for troops. and vehicle armor ....................................................................................... . . Ammunition for Marine Corps ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Sm all Arm s for Army .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Building/Maintenance of Navy ships .................................................................................................................................................................................................... To study instances of waste. fraud and abuse within DoD business processes and implement specific GAO recommendations for reform ................................... Veterans: +$4.65 billion Veterans Health Care .................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................................... Survivor Benefit Plan .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Disabled Veterans Tax ["concurrent receipt"] ......................................................................................................................................................................................... Fund longterm care initiatives for veterans ......................................................................................................................................................................................... Remove proposed $250 enrollment fee on Priority 7&8 veterans ......................................................................................................................................................... Remove proposed increases in copayments for Priority 7&8 veterans ........................................................................................................................................: ........ Prosthetic needs for veterans .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. VA Medical and Prosthetic Research .................................................................................................................................................................................................... Mental Health Care for Veterans ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... Allowances (all for purposes of Homeland Security): +$2.05 billion Rail Security............. ........... .... ............................... ................... Port Security. including air cargo screening. preventing nuclear/radiological weapons in cargo containers. research and development. and grants .................... Centers for Disease Control ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............. First Responders ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Interoperable com m unications system s for first responders ............................................................................................................... Fedeal ir arsals............................................. ................ Federal air m arshals ................................................................................................................................................ : .............................................................. Internal Custom s Enforcement/Border Patrol Agents .. ................. . . . ....................................................................................................................... ...................... Total Defense Funds Used. All of Which Are Reallocated to Defense. Homeland Security Needs. and Veterans Programs and Benefits ............................ $75 million. $10 million. $10 million. $1 billion. $5 million. $1 billiofi. $100 million. $2.5 billion. $400 million. $300 million. $150 million. $100 million. $50 million. $50 million. $100 million. $500 million. $250 million. $900 million. $85 million. $65 million. $150 million. $7.8 billion.