May 15, 2008

SAN DIMAS, CA - Congressman David Dreier (R-Sam Dimas, CA) voted today to approve much needed funding for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan but opposed extra amendments that contained billions of unrelated, unrequested domestic spending, a massive tax hike, and restrictions on our commanders and troops in the field.  During today's debate, Congressman Dreier offered a motion to have an up or down vote on H.R. 6026, the Clean Global War on Terror Supplemental Funding Appropriations Act of 2008, so that our troops could receive the funding they need without further delay. The motion was defeated by the Democrat Majority by a vote of 224 to 195.

“I want to get the troops on the battlefield the funding they need in a timely way,” Dreier said.  “Unfortunately, the Democrat controlled Congress has taken that funding hostage and used it to advance unrelated spending and policies.  They are using this bill to try to force a surrender in Iraq, a tax increase on small business owners and excessive spending completely unrelated to our troops and their immediate needs.  Even more cynically, they have included a massive veterans’ benefit package paid for by a massive tax hike, daring members to vote against it.  I am a strong supporter of veterans’ benefits, but I believe we should address them on their own.  Slapping them on a massive spending bill is not going to get them to our troops and veterans any faster.  In fact, they could be jeopardized because of their handling in this bill.”

Congressman Dreier has consistently supported veterans' benefits and is a cosponsor of H.R. 5684, the Veterans' Education Improvement Act, which increases education assistance for veterans, provides veterans with an increased monthly living stipend and allows benefits to be used to repay student loans or cover vocational and business training classes.