Date: 2007-02-15
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I am going to bring it back down a notch for a minute. On Tuesday. I had the privilege to spend time with some of our Nations finest. I traveled to Walter Reed Army Medical Center and talked with some of our soldiers who dedicated their lives to protect our Nation and gave their hearts. souls and bodies to the cause of freedom. As I was driving out to the hospital. I reflected upon the changes in Iraq in the yearandahalf since my first visit to Walter Reed. During that visit. IED was not a regular part of the American vocabulary. Mr. Speaker. Fatalities were shocking. The mounting death toll was disturbing. � Today. there are insurgent attacks almost every day. Iraq has descended into a deadly civil war. and almost every American has become familiar with the term IED and the deadly impact they have on the young men and women that we send to fight for us in this war. The terms of war that my good friend from Indiana so well knows. the casualties. death. kidnappings. injuries. helicopter crashes. bombs. amputations. goodbyes. sorrow and pain have all become commonplace. We hear that another helicopter was shot down or that three more soldiers died today in Iraq. and soon enough we become numb to the true impact that this war is having on our troops and lights up the room who only wants his their families. daddy to come home forever. These young men and women rep- I support this resolution because the resent true honor. courage and selfless- explanation the President has given ness. They also represent the incalcu- the American people is not good lable cost of the war. the price tag that enough. I cannot help but think about is not mentioned. the lives. limbs. the way this war is affecting not only hopes and dreams. my generation. Mr. Speaker. but the Theyare soldiers like a young man I generations following mine. They. too. met Tuesday who was travelling on recognize the sacrifices that our men foot with his convey when an IED ex- and women in uniform are facing. ploded. and as he put it. blew him up. Students from two schools in my disHe had served in Iraq twice before. and trict. Nob Hill Elementary and Silver on his third tour of duty. Mr. Speaker. Ridge Elementary. made Valentines he became a double amputee. lost his Day cards for the soldiers. and I got a arm and leg. Clearly. his total experi- chance to deliver them Tuesday during ence will change him completely. my visit to Walter Reed. One of these Another young soldier was spending cards reads. the one right here: "Thank time with his family when I visited. He you for protecting our country and me. has a 6yearold little boy who talked Youre the best. I would never have had to me excitedly about how his daddy the guts to fight with guns anyways. was finally going to come home forever You are my hero. Forever and ever. Get after August. He. too. had two previous well very. very soon." tours and fell severely ill this third These young children recognize the time. Amazingly. this soldier hopes to service and sacrifice that these wargo over and finish his tour with his riors are making. As Members of Concompany when he is better. gress. we owe them no less. As a mom of 7yearold twins. my It is our responsibility to provide for first thought when meeting this de- the common defense. and that includes lightful little boy was that his dad had vigorous debate. informed discussion missed half his life so far. half his life. and responsible public policy. I could not help but worry that if we db I support this resolution because it not get it right soon in Iraq it will not does just that. and Mr. Speaker. I supbe long before this little boy and my port this resolution because the gentwins will be part of this conflict. tleman from Indiana knows better. And finally. there are soldiers like It does not require words to question the. young man who shared so much patriotism. We have had plenty of imwith me and who sincerely explained to plication throughout this debate oh me that he was actually glad that he this floor on the other side of the aisle. was badly injured. as opposed to his and death by a thousand cuts is the gunner. because his gunner had a -wife same as direct words. It is irresponsible and kids and he did not want his bud- and unconscionable that the other side dys family to have to look into his of the aisle hasquestioned the patrioteyes like that. He told me he wants to ism of the Members who disagree. run for office one day. and our Nation. It is Congress job to disagree. It is will be better for it. -our role in the system of checks and Americas future depends upon this balances. as our Founding Fathers engeneration of Americans. but while visioned them. unfortunately a role they fight to protect our country. they that was absent for the last 12 years. are depending on us to protect them. Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker. I yield myThey are counting on us. the United self such time as I may consume. States Congress and this President. to I would like to. on my time. yield to have a plan. a strategy that gets us the gentlewoman. I would like to yield somewhere and to help get them home to the gentlewoman on my time. since and not endlessly commit their lives she would not yield on her time. Would and their families lives to this war. the gentlewoman please identify by So. Mr. Speaker. today I join an over- name a Republican who has called a whelming majority of the American Democrat in this debate unpatriotic? people. a bipartisan majority of Con- Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. gress and some of the Presidents own Speaker. will the gentleman yield? military leaders to raise my voice and Mr. BUYER. I yield to the gentleto be. the voice of the constituents. the woman from Florida. thousands of people who I represent in Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. I the 20th district of Florida. against es- thank you for yielding.. calating this war in Iraq. I was just taking my opportunity. But more importantly. I raise my You have had more than 45 minutes to voice for my generation and for all the an hour of your own time to discuss little boys and girls in America whose your own view. and each us would like mommies and daddies are in Iraq and that same opportunity. It is 12:40 in the Afghanistan fighting for this country morning. So I appreciate you yielding. and for freedom. I can tell you. as I just mentioned in This President owes the American my remarks. that it does not require people. but more importantly. these express words. By implication. there brave troops. a strategy that makes are many Members on your side of the sense. that will do the job and that will aisle who have questioned the patriothelp get them home. The Presidents ism of any of us who disagree with the policy fails that 6yearold little boy Presidents policy. The Presidents polwith a heart of gold and a smile that icy is inappropriate. and it is Congress role to question to engage in vigorous oversight. That is a role that was absent for the last 12 years. and that is why thr American people elected Democrats to lead this chamber on November 7 and move this country in a new direction. which unfortunately you have neglected to do.