Madam Speaker, today the House is considering one of the largest supplemental funding bills in the history of Congress.  The bill before us would provide $165.4 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, bringing the total amount spent on those two wars to $865 billion.  While I strongly support efforts to combat al Qaeda in Afghanistan, I cannot condone the Bush Administration’s failed approach in Iraq and will consequently vote against this no-strings-attached war funding.  As I said when the House considered the bill in May, I am extremely proud of the service and sacrifice of our troops and their families, and the best way to demonstrate our support is by welcoming them home with the services and resources they need.

I am pleased that we will also vote on a separate package with important domestic programs, including the enhancement of the GI Bill of Rights program.  This program will provide tuition and housing assistance for veterans as they pursue higher education opportunities.  Furthermore, the domestic spending portion includes a temporary extension for people who have exhausted their unemployment insurance benefits.  At 6.1 percent, Rhode Island’s unemployment rate is one of the highest in the nation, so this extension comes as welcome news to those who are facing economic hardship while trying to look for work.

While I cannot support the military funding component of this measure, I am proud to vote for the domestic spending package and urge my colleagues to do the same.