Scott Opposes Additional War Funding, Supports Largest Expansion of G.I. Bill Benefits for Veterans

Statement

Scott Opposes Additional War Funding, Supports Largest Expansion of
G.I. Bill Benefits for Veterans

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives considered H.R. 2642, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Military Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Below is Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott's full statement on H.R. 2642.

"Madam Speaker, the War in Iraq has claimed the lives of 4,101 American soldiers and countless Iraqi civilians over the last five years. Beyond the tragic human cost of this war, the cost to the American tax payer has been tremendous.

"I oppose the first amendment to H.R. 2642 that will provide an additional $165.4 billion for this President's never ending war. If enacted, this Amendment will bring the total cost of the War in Iraq to nearly $660 billion. While I do not support cutting funding to troops in combat, I believe it is morally irresponsible to keep our troops indefinitely stuck in the middle of a sectarian civil war.

"Madam Speaker, unfortunately, the first amendment before the House today places no restrictions on how the President should use these funds to transition our mission in Iraq and bring our men and women in uniform home. Our continued military presence in Iraq is counter productive. There are more terrorists in Iraq today than there were before we invaded. The quality of life for an average Iraqi civilian is worse today than before we invaded. Our men and women in uniform have performed with honor and dignity, but Americans understand that this war - that should have never been waged and that should have never been authorized - can only be won diplomatically, not militarily.

"At the same time, I strongly support the second amendment to H.R. 2642 that will extend unemployment benefits, protect Medicaid, provide disaster relief to the Midwest, and, most importantly, provide for expanded veterans educational benefits.

"As many of our student veterans have come to realize, the current Montgomery G.I. Bill falls far short of meeting today's cost of a college education. The current program is a benefit that was designed for peacetime service and was never intended to be a wartime benefit.

"The 21st Century G.I. Bill will provide our men and women in uniform, who have served multiple and extended tours of duty in Iraq, the full cost of a four year public university. In addition to covering the cost of tuition, the 21st Century G.I. Bill will also provide funds for books and a monthly living stipend equivalent to housing costs in the area in which the veteran is enrolled. The 21st Century G.I. Bill will also create a new program in which the government will agree to match, dollar for dollar, any voluntary additional contributions to veterans from private colleges and universities.

"Madam Speaker, perhaps the most significant reform to the G.I. Bill that is included in this amendment is the expansion of benefits to our citizen soldiers in the National Guard and the Reserves. I served in the National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve for six years, but was never called up for active duty. On the other hand, today's Guard and Reserve members are serving multiple tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, getting pulled away from school, from their jobs and from their families. The current Montgomery G.I. Bill program does not adequately honor their service. The 21st Century G.I. Bill will finally honor the sacrifices of our citizen soldiers.

"I commend the leadership of my colleagues in both chambers, especially Senators Jim Webb, John Warner and Chuck Hagel for their steadfast leadership on this issue. Honoring the sacrifices of our veterans by providing them the opportunity to obtain a college education is a modest cost of this war. Regardless of how each of us may feel about the Iraq War, everyone in this body agrees that when we talk about supporting our troops that commitment does not and should not end when they return home.

"Madam Speaker, while I wish we could be bringing our troops home from Iraq with this supplemental appropriations bill, I commend the leadership of both sides of the aisle for allowing the 21st Century G.I. Bill to be offered as an amendment to H.R. 2642. This new G.I. Bill will transform an entire generation of young Americans by providing them access to a college education. I urge my colleagues to oppose the first amendment and to support the second amendment."

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