Bob Etheridge

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Chairman, I offer this amendment with my colleague, Mr. Reichert of Washington State, to force the administration to really do right by the widows and orphans of fallen public safety officers. For nearly 4 years, the U.S. Department of Justice has been dragging its feet on providing benefits to the families of brave men and women who have died in the line of duty protecting their communities. There are more than 200 claims, some of which have been waiting for decisions since 2003, languishing in the Public Safety Officers' Benefits office at the Office of Justice Programs. This is in clear conflict with the intent of Congress, which unanimously passed the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act to expedite cases and streamline the process. Instead, there has been delay after delay from the Department of Justice, and the PSOB office has created an incredibly complicated system that even personnel at the PSOB office have been confused by. My amendment would simply ensure that there are enough benefits personnel to deal with this backlog, enough appeals officers to address the concerns of families who are wrongfully denied, and additional managers or ombudsmen to help streamline claims and interact with claimants to make an emotional and difficult process easier. We owe our first responders no less than to be sure that their loved ones are taken care of if they fall while working to ensure that our communities are safe. These families should not have to jump through hoop after hoop to receive what they justly deserve. JoAnn Tilton of Katy, Texas, whose husband, Fire Chief Gary Tilton, died of a heart attack after responding to a traffic accident, has waited 2\1/2\ years to hear from the PSOB office. In that time she has been asked for volumes of information, been given conflicting information. She had basically been given the runaround in a bureaucratic marathon. She is one of the lucky ones, because at least she has gotten information from the PSOB office, even though that information includes having been told that a decision would be made earlier this month, before going forward with the claim. Now she is going to have to go through a second round of medical information reviews. Shelly Hardin of Hope Mills, North Carolina, whose husband, Sergeant James Heath Hardin, died of a heart attack while working to apprehend a criminal, did not even receive notice from the PSOB office that their claim was being processed. The PSOB office still cannot say when they will begin the processing. They are but two of the hundreds of individuals whose lives have been tragically disrupted, once by the death of the loved ones, and whose lives continue to be disrupted by the Department's delays. These additional funds will make sure that they wait no longer. The brave men and women who serve our communities every day, many of whom volunteer their time, don't ask when they get a call from someone in distress. They act immediately, and the Justice Department should do the same. The history of the Hometown Heroes Act is riddled with delays. The first delay came when they proposed regulations that were in direct conflict with the legislation. Then came more delays when they quibbled over wording and phrases and claims that they were waiting for approval from the OMB. It took 3 years to finalize the process. Since the law went into effect, only 10 families have been approved for the Hometown Heroes benefit out of 264 that have applied. Forty-seven claims have been denied, and more than 200 families still await a verdict. The U.S. Justice Department appears to be intentionally misinterpreting the intent of Congress to create the presumption that the death was caused by work in the line of duty. I urge the Justice Department to act swiftly and fairly on the remaining claims to provide the needed benefits, the much-deserved benefits. I urge my colleagues to support these amendments. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation. As a veteran of the U.S. Army myself, I strongly support our troops, our veterans and their families. Our troops have done everything they have been asked to do and done it exceptionally well. I am tremendously proud of all the troops from North Carolina and across America who have done their duty so admirably. They are our heroes, and we salute them. But as the Representative for Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base, I am very concerned about the state of readiness of America's armed forces. I have traveled to Iraq twice, and after I returned last year, I said the Administration must change this failed policy. Specifically, I said that we need more focus on the threat of international terrorists. The National Counterterrorism Center has released a report today entitled: ``Al-Qaida Better Positioned To Strike the West'' that concludes Osama Bin Laden's network has been reconstructed while America's military is bogged down in the civil war in Iraq, with no end in sight. H.R. 2956, written by Chairman Ike Skelton of the Armed Services Committee, one of the most respected Members of this body and an expert on military policy, is a good first step for this needed new direction. It requires the Iraqi leaders to begin to provide for the security of their own country by redeploying American combat troops from the sectarian civil war and reconstituting our readiness and transitioning American forces to the mission of effective counterterrorism anywhere in the world where radical jihadists threaten America and our interests. Let me be clear that H.R. 2956 maintains the flexibility of the Commander in Chief to direct the operations of the armed forces. It simply calls for a change in policy and public accountability for a comprehensive U.S. strategy for Iraq. North Carolina's senior Senator stated it well this week when she said, ``It is my firm hope and belief that we can start bringing our troops home in 2008.'' This bill begins to do just that. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for it.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation and urge my colleagues to join me in voting for it. As the first member of my family to graduate from college, I know firsthand that affordable access to quality higher education is the key to the American dream for working families. Unfortunately, college costs have skyrocketed in recent years even as many fine colleges and universities, like those in North Carolina, have gone to great lengths to keep higher education affordable. The Federal Government has an obligation to step up to the plate and provide more assistance, and H.R. 2669 makes several important changes to the Federal student financial assistance effort. Specifically, H.R. 2669 would provide nearly $18 billion in college financial aid at no new cost to the taxpayers. The bill would increase the maximum Pell grant scholarship for low-income and moderate-income students by $500 over the next 5 years. It would cut in half the interest rate on need-based Federal student loans from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent over 5 years. This will save the typical borrower some $4,400 over the life of the loan. This provision alone could benefit more than 162,000 students in North Carolina. H.R. 2669 would make historic investments in Historically Black Colleges and Universities--HBCUs--with $170 million in new grants for HBCUs, such as Shaw University and Fayetteville State University, in my congressional district. H.R. 2669 also would create a new designation of Predominantly Black Institutions, which are defined as schools that enroll students in financial need and have at least 40 percent African- American student enrollment. These schools would be eligible to receive $30 million in grant aid over 5 years for academic programs in the fields of science, technology, engineering, health education, and teacher education. This legislation would provide $228 million in funding over 4 years for Upward Bound that increases high school completion, college participation, and graduation rates among low- income and first-generation college students. I enthusiastically support the bill's tuition assistance for excellent undergraduate students who agree to teach in the Nation's public schools and its loan forgiveness for college graduates that go into public service professions. In addition, H.R. 2669 would make important new investments in science, technology, engineering and mathematics--STEM--education that is so critical to our prosperity in the global economy. I want to thank Chairman Miller and his outstanding professional staff, especially Gaby Gomez, Denise Forte, and Mark Zuckerman, for working with me to help nonprofit lenders, like we have in North Carolina. Specifically, this bill provides non-profit and small lenders a significant boost to their bottom line earnings and their ability to compete with for-profit lenders. These lenders will save $85 million in the first year to re-invest in their college aid financing and nearly $500 million over 5 years to serve students even better. As the legislative process moves forward, I want to continue to work with Chairman Miller to ensure that cuts to lender subsidies do not result in North Carolina students paying more for their loans than they do today. I am confident the final product will achieve that result, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting to pass H.R. 2669.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Courtney Crowder, formerly of my staff, and his wife Byinna on the birth of their first child, Courtney Amaya Crowder. Courtney was born on June 17, 2007 and weighed 8 pounds. Faye joins me in wishing Courtney and Byinna great happiness during this very special time in their lives. A Raleigh native, Courtney served on my district staff in several capacities with distinction and will always remain a member of team Etheridge. As a father and grandfather myself, I know the joy, pride, and excitement that parents experience upon the entrance of their child into the world. Representing hope, goodness, and innocence, a newborn allows those around her to see the world through her eyes as a new, fresh place with unending possibilities for the future. Through a child, one is able to recognize and appreciate the full potential of the human race. I know Courtney and Byinna look forward to the changes and challenges that their new daughter will bring to their lives while taking pleasure in the many rewards they are sure to receive as they watch her grow. I welcome young Courtney into the world and wish Courtney and Byinna all the best as they raise her.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the centennial celebration of Lee County, North Carolina, in my congressional district. Lee County was created from portions of Moore and Chatham Counties on March 6, 1907 and became an official county July 2, 1907. Lee County was named for General Robert E. Lee commanding general of the Confederate forces during the American Civil War and it is North Carolina's 98th county. The city of Sanford, named in honor of railroad engineer Col. Charles Ogburn Sanford, is the county seat. The county's early economy centered on agriculture, naval stores, and an iron works. Just prior to the Civil War in about 1853, the first commercial exploration of the area's coal veins was begun in the community of Egypt, now Cumnock. During the war, the coal was transported to Fayetteville on the Western Railroad, which had been built by slaves and immigrant Irish laborers. Once in Fayetteville, the coal was taken by boat on the Cape Fear River to the port of Wilmington. The Western Railroad extended to the town of Jonesboro, named after Col. Leonidas Campbell Jones. After the war, the Raleigh and Augusta Air Line Railroad built southward and crossed the Western Railroad tracks. At this junction and passenger point, the rail-born village of Sanford grew. The city was incorporated in Moore County in 1874, and its population in 1880 was 236 persons. The County of Lee was formed through a bill passed by the General Assembly in 1907. Wagon and buggy travel through the sands from Sanford to Carthage, the county seat of Moore, was too laborious and time consuming for the busy people of the railway junction. A new county with a convenient governmental seat needed to be formed. This was given overwhelming approval by a vote of area residents. Sanford's population in 1910 totaled 2,262 persons. After 1907, with railroad and a new county government, Lee County began a period of rapid growth. The economy flourished with new industries including tobacco harvesting, brownstone quarrying, furniture making, brick works, and later textiles. By 1930 the county population numbered 13,400 people. After World War II, in 1947, the cities of Sanford and Jonesboro merged. The 1950 census of the city counted 10,013 residents while the population of Lee County was 23,522 persons. Like much of my Congressional District, Lee County has experienced rapid growth in recent years, and today some 56,908 North Carolinians live there. Madam Speaker, Lee County has always been dear to my family since it is the birthplace of my lovely wife Faye Etheridge. It is fitting that we take a moment today to honor the centennial celebration of Lee County.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, on Friday of last week, the House took up 26 sequential votes on amendments to the 2008 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, H.R. 2638. The fourth of these votes was on an amendment by the gentlelady from Virginia, Representative Drake, which increased funding for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's 287(g) program. This program funds training and activity of State and local law enforcement personnel to carry out Federal immigration law. I believe that immigration law is and should be the responsibility of Federal border and Customs officials, and not delegated to the States and local authorities who are already burdened with protecting their communities. I, therefore, do not support the Drake amendment. On roll number 469 when I cast my vote on this amendment, however, an ``aye'' vote was recorded when a ``no'' vote should have been recorded.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate John Bryan and Rebekah Sparrow Chiavetta on the birth of their second child, John Hayden Chiavetta. John was born on Thursday, May 24, 2007 and weighed 6 pounds and 15 ounces. My wife Faye joins me in wishing John and Rebekah and their daughter, Charlotte, great happiness upon this new addition to their family. As the father of three, I know the joy and pride that John and Rebekah feel at this special time. And I know that Charlotte is excited to have a brother with whom she can share the wonders of childhood. Children remind us of the incredible miracle of life, and they keep us young-at-heart. Every day they show us a new way to view the world. I know the Chiavettas look forward to the changes and challenges that their new son will bring to their lives while taking pleasure in the many rewards they are sure to receive as they watch him grow. I welcome young John into the world and wish John and Rebekah all the best as they raise him.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this final legislation to provide emergency supplemental appropriations for Fiscal Year 2007. While this final compromise is not perfect, I will vote for it to provide necessary funds for our troops in the field as well as meet other important priorities. This bill contains more funding than the President requested for military health care and veterans health care. It expresses the support of the U.S. Congress for a new direction in Iraq by tying economic aid to 18 specific benchmarks on political, security and economic progress, although it provides the President the waiver authority he negotiated before agreeing to sign the bill. This bill also includes the first raise in the minimum wage in a decade as well as critical funding for domestic needs like hurricane recovery efforts. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress from both political parties as well as the President and the Administration to provide a new direction in Iraq and to meet the critical needs of the people of North Carolina's Second Congressional District.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Brad Woodhouse formally of my staff and his wife Jessica on the birth of their first child, Master Brady Carter Woodhouse. Brady was born on May 23, 2007, and weighed 8 pounds 2 ounces. Faye joins me in wishing Brad and Jessica great happiness upon this new addition to their family. A Raleigh native, Brad served as my Agriculture Legislative Assistant, Senior Legislative Assistant and press secretary and will always remain a member of Team Etheridge. As a father and grandfather, I know the joy, pride, and excitement that parents experience upon the entrance of their child into the world. Representing hope, goodness, and innocence, a newborn allows those around him to see the world through his eyes as a new, fresh place with unending possibilities for the future. Through a child, one is able to recognize and appreciate the full potential of the human race. I know Brad and Jessica look forward to the changes and challenges that their new son will bring to their lives while taking pleasure in the many rewards they are sure to receive as they watch him grow. I welcome young Brady into the world and wish Brad and Jessica all the best as they raise him.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of our brave men and women in uniform, the police officers, firefighters and other public service officers who protect our communities. As yesterday was National Peace Officers Memorial Day, there is no better time to call on the Department of Justice to award the benefits due to our law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defending our Nation. For 30 years now we have made a strong statement about the value our Nation places on the contribution for those who serve our community through the Public Safety Officers Benefit plan. About 4 years ago, however, I learned the PSOB was routinely rejecting claims or requiring burdensome documentation from these officers and first responders who died from a heart attack or stroke while serving our communities. I felt that this was wrong, and so did most of my colleagues here in Congress. In a strong bipartisan effort, Congress unanimously passed and the President signed it and the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefit Act became law. Since 2003, when the law was enacted, only two claims have been awarded out of the more than 240 received, while nearly 40 claims have been rejected. The rest languish in a bureaucratic mess. I urge the Department of Justice to act swiftly and fairly on the remaining claims and pay these claims to provide this much needed and much deserved benefit as we observe National Police Week.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of Donald N. Buie of Sanford, North Carolina, who died Monday, May 7, 2007. In his passing I lost a good friend, and North Carolina lost one of its most outstanding citizens and a man who was instrumental in his church, community, county, and State. One of the area's most beloved men, my friend Don, passed away peacefully with his family by his side following a brief battle with Creutzfeldt Jakob disease, a rare degenerative neurological disorder. He was only 63, Don loved hunting, raising beagles, barbecuing, and shagging the night away, Don was a native of Western Harnett County and graduated from Benhaven High School in 1961. In 1965 Don received his undergraduate degree from East Carolina University in Physical Education and completed his master's degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1971, Don taught school in both Harnett and Lee County for 6 years. During this time, he coached basketball, baseball, and football. In 1973, he began working at Central Carolina Community College. During his tenure at CCCC, Don was very active in expanding its curriculum, finding new talent and bringing culture in Lee, Harnett, and Chatham Counties. Don retired from CCCC in 2002 as the Dean of Continuing Education. Don served Lee County in many capacities, and when he joined an organization he typically became the leader. Don was the chairman of the Lee County Democratic party where he helped lead us to victory in past elections. He was also past president and member of the Sanford Rotary Club, past president and member of the Lee County Wildlife Club, the past president of the Lee County Farm Bureau, and a host of others. Don is survived by his lovely wife of 38 years, Jeanne Johnson Buie, and their three children Melanie Hawes, Dixie Simpson, and David Buie. Madam Speaker, Donald Buie used every minute of his long and productive life to make the world a better place. He was a respected and successful coach, a dedicated public servant, and a great North Carolinian. It is fitting that we honor him and his family today.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, as a former school chief serving in Congress, I rise today to commemorate National Teacher Appreciation Week. All across America this week, our Nation's school children, parents, PTAs and others are gathering to show their appreciation to the professional educators who work every day to make their futures brighter. Teacher Appreciation Week is a great opportunity to stop and pay tribute to the profession that shapes the world of tomorrow. Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to note that this new Democratic Congress is doing its part to support education in our communities. Democrats rejected President Bush's misguided educational budget cuts. Earlier this year, the House passed a balanced budget resolution that provides billions of dollars more for the non-neglected priorities like Head Start, secondary education, the Individuals With Disability Act and important initiatives. In addition, my colleagues and I have crafted bipartisan legislation to provide critical investment in our school construction and modernization across this country. The Rangel-Ramstad-Etheridge America Better Classrooms Act will provide $25 billion in interest-free bonds for local schools. This bill will make a difference in our communities, our children and our teachers. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in this piece of legislation on National Teacher Appreciation Week.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. And let me thank the chairman and ranking member for their hard work. The Department of Homeland Security is tasked with protecting America and its citizens. There is no greater charge. Oversight is critical to the Department both to root out waste, fraud and abuse, and to examine the effectiveness and to recommend improvements for the Department's operations. This bill provides support for the Inspector General's Office and creates tools that will enhance transparency for Congress and the public. To help improve policymaking at the DHS and to promote long-term planning, this bill establishes a Directorate for Policy to be headed by an undersecretary for policy and requires a quadrennial review of the Department's practices and mission. This policymaking must address the needs of America's most vulnerable citizens: its children. I thank the chairman for including my language that requires the Directorate for Policy to address the needs of children. That will enable the Department to enhance school preparedness and other emergency planning needs of facilities for children. As a former superintendent of North Carolina's public schools, I know how important planning is to preparedness and security for our schools and other places that focus on our children. The Department must understand the importance of including schools and children in emergency planning, and this bill will ensure that it does so. I also believe that DHS must prioritize the protection of our critical food and agriculture infrastructure to enhance the health and security of America. The ongoing melamine crisis only reveals how vulnerable we are. This bill requires the Department to report on their progress on agriculture security in response to issues raised by two critical reports on their efforts. That will ensure that DHS is doing appropriate planning for agriculture security and give Congress the opportunity for oversight. I thank the chairman for including this in this bill. I am also concerned about the security of sensitive materials used by the Department, uniforms, badges, identification cards, and protective equipment. H.R. 1684 enhances the nation's security by requiring these items, subject to practical exceptions, produced domestically when they will be used domestically. Taken together, the many good provisions in this bill will improve the Department's ability to protect our homeland. This is a good, bipartisan bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment because section 407 that my colleague wants to strike has one purpose, to strengthen our national security. It is a commonsense provision that says that sensitive materials, uniforms, protective gear, badges and identification cards should be produced and shipped only within the United States of America. It has a flexible provision that contains an exception for when materials are not available domestically of an acceptable quality or at market value. As long as the Secretary certifies that national security will be protected, he may do it. So if one of our allies makes an item of protective gear that is not available domestically, it will still be available to the Department. Additionally, it does not apply to purchases made outside the United States for use outside the United States. So if an agent or officer is overseas and needs a bulletproof vest or other piece of protective gear quickly, he or she can get it. Our national security could be compromised if terrorists, smugglers or other would-be counterfeiters had ready access to the Department of Homeland Security's uniforms, protective gear or ID cards. This amendment would remove or reduce the opportunity for terrorists or others with bad intentions to pose as Homeland Security officials or officers. It is not uncommon for cargo to be hijacked or lost, particularly in the staging areas at our Nation's ports-of-entry. The potential theft of uniforms, badges or ID cards, by the truckload it could be, poses a clear threat. In years past, there have been several reports on the overseas manufacture of uniforms for the Department of Homeland Security's operational components. Indeed, most Americans would be shocked to learn that Border Patrol uniforms have been manufactured in Mexico and other countries. This ongoing practice raises legitimate security concerns, not only at the border but all across this country, which is what this provision addresses. For that reason, I oppose this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to join me in rejecting it. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I admire the gentleman, but I think, in this case, we are talking about an issue that transcends the issues we are talking about. We are talking about the safety and security of American people. I believe in trade. I have supported it. But there are issues that are paramount to the security and protection of the American people. I think this is one where it goes to the badges and the uniforms that our men and women use to protect Americans' interests. So, with that, I would urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation. This legislation provides protection to all Americans, and is consistent with our proud history as a Nation whose founding principle is that all people are created equal. Growing up on a tenant farm in rural North Carolina, I learned basic values that say that you treat all people with respect. These are the values that America stands for. Hate crimes--violent crimes motivated by bigotry against race or creed, hatred against nationality or disability, or intolerance for difference--have no place in a country that holds fast to those values. Mr. Speaker, hate crimes exhibit exceptional circumstances where a federal role is appropriate and necessary because the crime is intended to intimidate Americans beyond the individual victim or jurisdiction where the crime occurs. The bill that the House is considering today provides vital support for the prosecution of these most heinous acts of violence. It gives local and state law enforcement vital resources to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. These resources are desperately needed, as small rural police departments sometimes cannot afford lengthy and complicated investigations. The funding provided in this bill will ensure crimes do not go unresolved due to lack of funding. This bill appropriately targets crimes that are motivated by hatred or bigotry, not the hatred or bigotry itself. While we must work towards a world free of racism and prejudice, it is not the place of the government to tell people how to think or feel, or what to believe. What we can and must do, however, is work to sow the seeds of justice, freedom, and equality. We must protect all of our citizens from crime, and ensure that justice prevails when hatred leads to violence. I support this bill, and I oppose the Republican motion to recommit H.R. 1592 because it is a parliamentary maneuver intended to kill this legislation. This bill is a step towards a more just, more equal, and more free society. It provides state and local law enforcement crucial federal resources they need, and makes sure that these terrible crimes are fully investigated and prosecuted.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 249. This legislation is critical to preserving a part of America's roots, and it is an important symbol of the rugged, wild, and freedom that is the American West. As old as the red rock on the canyon walls, and as reliable as the sun rising in the clear western sky, America's wild and free-roaming horses and burros on our public lands are part of our nation's fabric and history. H.R. 249, a bill to protect wild free-roaming horses and burros, will expressly prohibit the sale, transfer, or slaughter for commercial product processing of any freeroaming horse or burro on U.S. public lands. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 249.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of overriding the President's misguided veto of H.R. 1591, U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act. We need a new direction in Iraq. This legislation contains every penny the President has requested for our troops in Iraq and adds $4 billion more. The bill includes additional funding for military health care and military housing and provides $1.8 billion not requested by the President to begin meeting the unmet health care needs of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. As the Representative for Fort Bragg, I strongly support our troops, their families and their communities. Our superb military men and women have done everything that has been asked of them and done it well. America's military victory in Iraq was achieved when Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled. But the Administration went to war without a plan to win the peace, and our military victory has been bogged down in a mindless occupation led by bitterly stubborn politicians here at home. Just last month, Vice President Cheney insisted that Saddam Hussein had been allied with Osama bin Laden's terrorist network despite all evidence to the contrary. Last night, the President vetoed this legislation in favor of his failed strategy of stay the course. The leadership of this Administration continues to be in a state of denial, and Congress must assert its rightful role in our nation's policymaking. I will vote to override this veto for a new direction in Iraq, and I urge my colleagues to join me in doing so.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this important legislation. This supplemental appropriations conference report contains vitally important funding for critical priorities and unmet needs. For example, this bill includes $1.7 billion more than the President requested for military health care, including funds to correct the scandalous conditions at Walter Reed and other military hospitals. It includes another $1.7 billion for veterans' health care, $2.5 billion for improving the readiness of our stateside troops and $1.4 billion for military housing allowances. A nation at war simply must provide necessary funds to support our troops. In addition, this legislation includes $3.1 billion for military construction to implement the BRAC mandates that impact Fort Bragg in my Congressional District and military communities all across the country. It is important to note that the former Republican Congressional Majority failed to pass the military construction appropriations and imperiled these priority projects. This legislation corrects that failure. Mr. Speaker, this legislation will assert some measure of oversight and accountability to a war policy that has been tragically mismanaged by this administration for too long. We need a new direction to rebuild our military and refocus on the true threat to America from al Qaeda and the Islamist jihadists who attacked us on 9/11. We must deploy our military might to eliminate Osama bin Laden and the true ``grave and gathering threat'' to America. We must pass this legislation to send a wake-up call to the President that ``Stay The Course'' is no longer an option. Denial is no longer an acceptable policy. I urge my colleagues to support a new direction and vote for the conference report. Should the President veto this bill, as he has indicated, I believe he should then meet with Congressional Leadership to work together and forge a consensus on these vitally important matters.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 1538, Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of it. I support H.R. 1538 because I believe our men and women in uniform who have served our country deserve the best possible care when they return home. The conditions that were recently uncovered at Walter Reed Army Medical Center were disturbing and unacceptable. In addition, thousands of soldiers are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and we need to further improve the conditions of the Department of Defense and Veterans Administration health care systems in order to meet this need. As the Representative for Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base, and as a veteran myself, I have always made the needs of our soldiers and veteran and their families high on the priority list. H.R. 1538 is a bipartisan bill that improves the lives of our veterans in several ways. This legislation will improve the access to quality medical care for service members who are outpatients at military health care facilities, restore efficiency to the disability evaluation system, and streamline the transition of wounded service members from the Armed Forces to the Veterans Administration. By establishing a system or patient advocates and independent medical advocates, and improving the system of case managers for wounded service members, H.R. 1538 makes sure that veterans are getting the care that they need. In addition, this bill improves training and reduces caseloads for these managers so that service members and their families can get more individual attention. Finally, H.R. 1538 establishes a national toll-free hotline so that service members and families have a mechanism for reporting problems and deficiencies in their treatment. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for H.R. 1538, Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007, and improving the quality of care for our Nation's veterans.

Mr. ETHERIDGE

Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Chairman, on behalf of North Carolina's children and our working families and the people of America, I rise this evening in support of this budget resolution and congratulate my good friend the chairman of the committee, John Spratt, for his visionary leadership in crafting this important document. With this budget resolution, the new Democratic majority will succeed where our Republican predecessors have failed. To budget is to govern, and this resolution will produce a balanced budget with balanced priorities, and that is important. As the chairman has indicated, I am proud to be the only chief State schools officer serving in Congress, and I am particularly pleased about the measures providing for education and innovation in this budget. And I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your leadership. Specifically, rather than continuing the Republicans' record of passing a crushing debt burden on the future generations, the Spratt resolution contains tough budget discipline for a new direction for the Federal budget. The Spratt resolution rejects the President's proposed education cuts and instead provides greater investment in our Nation's schools, including the school construction bonds that Chairman Rangel and I have been working on for nearly a decade. It provides $50 billion for children's health insurance, and it protects millions of middle- income families from the onslaught of the alternative minimum tax. There are many reasons to support this resolution, but in my brief allotted time, I want to say that I support this resolution on behalf of my grandson, William, and my granddaughter, Virginia, and all the children of America and their families who deserve a budget that puts their needs first. My friends, this is what the Republican leadership has done for the last 6 years. They used a credit card. No one in America could get away with paying nothing but the interest on a credit card. They have run up the debt for my grandchildren and every child in America, and that is wrong. The definition of a good budget is when you do what is right for the next generation. That is the definition of this budget, and it is a budget that is truly balanced. And I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your hard work.