May 15, 2008 — Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) made the following comments today regarding three amendments for H.R. 2642, the emergency war Supplemental Appropriations Bill, voted on today in the House of Representatives.  The first amendment addressed war funding, the second amendment contained war policy restrictions, and the third amendment added unrelated domestic spending and a more than $50 billion tax increase.

“Secretary Gates has told us that in June the Department of Defense will run out of money to pay the Army.” Franks stated.  "The President made it clear weeks ago that an acceptable war supplemental must provide for our men and women on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan without creating artificial timelines, tying the hands of our commanders, or strapping unrelated domestic funding on the backs of our troops.

"Instead, Democrats stalled for literally months to pass this bill, and after waiting until the eleventh hour, have produced a bill laden with a $51 billion tax increase and over $72 billion in domestic spending.  They have done so knowing that this bill will be vetoed and that in so doing they are continuing to deny the critically needed resources to our courageous soldiers and their families who depend on this Congress for their paychecks.

“Despite some Members of Congress continuing to disgracefully use our troops for their own political posturing, these noble men and women continue waging a difficult war with resilience and courage, and they deserve a clean supplemental and a clear message of unequivocal support from Congress."