Congressman Franks Urges House Leadership to Put Veterans' Needs Ahead of Politics

Press Release

Veterans and Military Funding Long Overdue, Leadership Refuses to Move Bill to Final Passage

Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) issued the following statement today in response to the President's speech calling for Congress to complete its work on the overdue veterans' and military construction appropriations bill. Today marks the 137th day since the bill was first passed by the House.

"There is absolutely no reason for Speaker Pelosi to refuse to fund our veterans other than pure political posturing." Franks stated. "Democrats are allowing the needs of our warfighters, past and present, to be exploited for political purposes, and that disgraces both our current servicemen and women as well as our noble veterans— the very ones who deserve our deepest honor and gratitude.

"The President continues to remind the House Democratic leadership that he will sign a clean veterans' funding bill as soon as he receives it. The least we can do is to fulfill our basic responsibility to legislate and appropriate funding for those who have fought and bled to preserve the freedom of every single Member of this United States Congress."

NOTE: The House passed the veterans' appropriations bill on June 15, 2007 by a margin of 409-2, with the Senate passing its own version and naming conferees on the same day, September 6th. Nearly three weeks ago, House Republican leaders sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) urging her to appoint conferees to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, which allocates funding for critical benefits such as housing and health care for our troops and veterans. Democratic leaders have not only delayed the bill, but went so far as to vote against three Republican proposals (on October 23, 24, and 25) to complete work on the measure.

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