U. S. Troops Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act, 2007--Conference Report

Floor Speech

U.S. TROOP READINESS, VETERANS' HEALTH, AND IRAQ ACCOUNTABILITY ACT, 2007--CONFERENCE REPORT -- (Senate - April 26, 2007)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Texas.

It has been 4 years since the President sent our troops into Iraq, 4 long years. That is longer than it took to win World War II. More than 3,300 troops have sacrificed their lives in Iraq, and nearly 25,000 have been wounded--many severely.

With passage of this conference agreement, Congress will have appropriated more than $450 billion for the war in Iraq. Did my colleagues hear that? Four hundred and fifty billion dollars. That compares with the $296 billion which the United States spent on World War II. Yet in the 4 years since our troops succeeded in removing Saddam Hussein from power, the President has failed--and I say this with all due respect when I speak about the President--the President has failed in his mission to bring peace and stability to the people of Iraq. The troops had the courage and the strength to win the war, but the President has not had the wisdom to win the peace. It is time--past time--for a new direction in Iraq.

The agreement before us today provides that new direction. But rather than admit the need to change course, the President--and I say this with all due respect--continues to try to mislead the American public about the war in Iraq.

He recently asked Congress to ``put partisanship on hold.'' But then he, the President, voiced the incredible assertion that the attacks on 9/11 are linked to the war in Iraq. That is not true, and the American people know it.

The President complained that Congress is holding funding for the troops hostage to funding for domestic needs. President Bush claims that Democrats are adding porkbarrel spending to a bill intended for the troops. The President has charged that Democrats are ``legislating defeat'' in Iraq.

President Bush has tried to scare the pants off the public by suggesting that our bill could result in death and destruction in America. What utter nonsense. What hogwash. This Senate must not be a rubberstamp for this or any President. Under the Constitution, Congress has a duty to question the war policies of this or any President. We must listen to the voices of the people, and the American people have sent a very clear message to Washington: It is time to start to bring our troops home from Iraq.

The Congress has responded, crafting a new direction that will spur the Iraqi Government to pursue real political reconciliation in that country. The American people do not support an open-ended U.S. military occupation in Iraq. It is time for the truth; it is time for the White House to stop the fear mongering and face the truth.

In the book of John, chapter 8, verse 32 of the King James version of the Holy Bible are these words:

And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.

The Congress is not holding funding for the troops hostage to domestic porkbarrel spending. The $6.9 billion for rebuilding the gulf coast after Hurricane Katrina is not pork barrel spending. Ask the citizens of New Orleans. The $1.8 billion for the VA to provide first-class health care to our wounded veterans is not porkbarrel spending. Ask the troops who are waiting for care, and ask their families. I know $20 million to repair Walter Reed Hospital is not pork barrel spending. The $650 million for the SCHIP child health program to deal with the shortfall in 14 States is not porkbarrel spending. Ask the parents with sick children. The $2.25 billion for securing the country from terrorist attack, including port and border security, transit security, funds to improve screening for explosives at airports, and/or screening cargo on passenger aircraft is not porkbarrel spending. It is homeland security to prevent the death and destruction which President Bush warns about.

This country must not forsake critical domestic needs because of this President's single-minded obsession with his failed mission. Congress has appropriated more than $38 billion for rebuilding Iraq, and this agreement adds another $3 billion. I simply do not understand why this President--our President--is eager to commit billions of dollars to rebuild Baghdad but absolutely opposes additional money to rebuild the gulf coast here in America. Why does President Bush decry needed funds for the Veterans' Administration to build a first-class health care system for our brave troops?

Porkbarrel spending? I think not. The conference agreement that is before the Senate today totals $124 billion. It is lower than the House bill. Yet essential funding for gulf coast recovery, veterans medical care, homeland security, and agricultural disaster relief remains.

The conference report also includes an increase in the minimum wage--the first increase since 1997. It is needed, it is fair, and it is long overdue.

There is also $4.9 billion in tax incentives for small businesses that are fully paid for in the bill. Small business is the backbone of our economy and these incentives will help economic growth.

This bill includes more than $100 billion for the Department of Defense--nearly $4 billion above the President's inadequate request. It protects the troops by including $1.2 billion above the President's low number for mine-resistant vehicles.

This bill cares for the troops by providing $2.1 billion more than the President for health care, including more resources for troops with traumatic brain injury.

Porkbarrel? I think not.

The President--our President--claims this is a partisan bill. The President claims Congress is trying to micromanage the war, substituting our judgment for the judgment of our generals. The President knows better.

The Constitution says that ``the Congress shall have power''--do you know what that means? The Congress, that is us--``the Congress shall have power to ..... provide for the common Defence.'' It is the Congress--yes, it is the Congress--that is given the sole power to declare war. The Congress is sworn to ``raise and support Armies.'' The Congress has heard the voices of the people, and we have responded as we are elected to do.

This conference agreement provides a new directive for the war in Iraq. It is patriotic, not partisan, to help the President to see the truth--the truth. It is our duty. It is a duty born of love for this great country, the Constitution, and the American people.

If the President decides to veto the bill, he will be holding funding for the troops hostage to his stubborn insistence on going into Iraq and the resulting disaster caused by his, the President's, war policies.

I encourage all Members to vote for this conference report. We can send a strong message to the White House. We can help this President face the truth. Four years after our troops removed Saddam Hussein from power, the President's policies simply are not working. They must change. We must come together as a country to repair the damage caused by this horrendous war--this horrendous war--and chart a new direction in Iraq.

I thank the Chair, and I yield the floor.

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