Date: 2007-11-08
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentlewoman from New York for yielding me this time. and I yield -myself such time as I may consume. I believe the distinguished chairman of the Rules Committee stated that this rule was passed by a 130 vote. I was not able to be present at that rules meeting. and neither was Mr. DREIER. I. believe Ms. SUTTON was not either. So it would not have been a 130 vote. That could not have been possible. Mr.. Speaker. since the terrorist attacks of September 11. 2001. our Armed Forces have been deployed in two major theaters of operation. Too many of our noble servicemembers have given what Abraham Lincoln called the last full measure of devotion to the Nation. Many more of these brave men and women bear the physical and mental scars of battle which will last their lifetimes. As a Congress. we must continue to work to ensure that our military has all the equipment and training necessary to successfully and safely complete their missions. I commend the members of the conference committee for working in a bipartisan manner to meet the needs of our military and veterans in the conference report on the Defense appropriations bill for fiscal year 2008. The $459 billion in the bill will provide the necessary resources to our Armed Forces and continue the investments that we have made to make certain that the American military is the finest in the world. The conference report provides $23.5 billion. over $2.2 billion above the fiscal 2007 level. for Defense health programs. The bill improves the Pentagons electronic medical records and enables better coordination between DOD and the VA. It also enhances preventative medicine programs and increases investments in medical research. Id like to highlight that $138 million has been allocated for breast cancer research and $80 million for prostate cancer research. To support our soldiers families. the bill provides $2.6 billion for family advocacy and other programs to support families affected by the rigors of war. The conference report also gives all of our military personnel a much deserved pay raise. as was mentioned by the distinguished chairman. 3.5 percent. and fully funds the efforts to increase our Armed Forces. including equipping and training costs for 7.000 new members of the Army and 5.000 new marines. The bill also protects our soldiers in combat by providing $11.6 billion for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and increases funding for body armor and other protective equipment. Mr. Speaker. unfortunately. the majority has yet to send the President any appropriations bill this year to sign into law. This is the longest Congress has taken to finish even one appropriation bill in over 20 years. Because the majority has failed to complete its work on these important appropriations bills. funding for the Federal Government is set to expire on November 16. This conference report will extend the current continuing resolution through December 14 so that the government can continue to remain open. The CR. the continuing resolution. also provides $6.4 billion in emergency spending. including $2.9 billion for FEMAs disaster relief fund. $500 million for fighting wildfires. and $3 billion for the gulf coast Road Home hurricane rebuilding program. It also increases funding to prepare for the 2010 census. as well as another $2.9 billion to bring VA funding up to the Presidents fiscal year 2008 request. Obviously. I support this important piece of legislation that the rule brings to the floor today. but I think that it falls short on one major issue. providing a bridge fund for our troops in theater. Without a bridge fund. the Department of Defense will be forced to make some very difficult decisions: Will they cut funding for the troops in theater to carry out the worthwhile projects and funding increases in this bill. or will they send funding to troops and put major projects in this bill on hold? The Department of Defense should not have to make such decisions. Mr. Speaker. This conference report should fund both the important projects in the bill and provide our troops in the theater with funding. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.