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Pelosi:
'Disabled Veterans Tax Breaks Our Promise to Servicemen and Women'
November
5, 2003
Washington,
D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi held a news conference
this morning to call on the Republican leadership to end the disabled
veterans tax. Pelosi was joined by representatives from veterans'
service organizations, including the American Legion, Disabled American
Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America, Fleet Reserve Association,
Blind Veterans' Association, and Paralyzed Veterans of America.
At the news
conference, Democrats released a national report on the impact of
the disabled veterans tax. A copy of the report can be found at:
http://democraticleader.house.gov/national_disabled_veterans_tax.pdf
. Below are Pelosi's remarks.
"As Americans,
we make a simple yet sacred promise to our courageous servicemen
and women: 'You have taken care of us, so we will take care of you.'
"The disabled
veterans tax breaks that promise. Denying full retirement and disability
benefits to disabled veterans dishonors the sacrifice made by our
brave men and women.
"Democrats
want to immediately end the disabled veterans tax for all veterans,
the Republican would only end it for a select few. After Democrats,
working with veterans service organizations, made the disabled veterans
tax too hot to handle for the Republican leaders in Congress, they
announced a deal that is a first step, but it is not nearly good
enough.
"Under
the Republican deal, two-thirds of disabled veterans will not receive
one penny of compensation for their disabilities. Our veterans served
for all of us -- we must be there for all of them. We don't want
to leave anyone on the battlefield, and we don't want to leave anyone
behind after they are home.
"As we
negotiate the Department of Defense Authorization conference report,
Democrats call on Republicans to end the disabled veterans tax for
all veterans. They could do it today, if they wanted to. Democrats
will continue to fight to ensure that America fulfills its moral
obligations to those who have paid the high price for our freedom
-- those who have worn our nation's uniform.
"Our veterans
and their families ask for nothing more. They deserve nothing less."
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