Pelosi: ‘President’s Words Honoring Veterans Ring Hollow’

Pelosi: ‘President’s Words Honoring Veterans Ring Hollow’

Monday, August 22, 2005

Contact: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on President Bush’s speech before the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Salt Lake City:

â€Å"I join President Bush in honoring those Americans we properly call our heroes â€" America’s veterans. Unfortunately, the President’s words honoring veterans ring hollow when his actions do not back them up.

â€Å"President Bush and Republicans in Congress have broken the promises our veterans receive when they sign up as soldiers to defend our nation. Republicans have underfunded veterans’ health care even as waiting lists for soldiers returning from Iraq grow, proposed to increase financial burdens on veterans, and continued to bar entire groups of veterans, including combat veterans, from even entering the VA health care system. The President and Republicans in Congress have also opposed access to TRICARE for National Guard and reservists, and ending the Disabled Veterans’ Tax.

â€Å"Our soldiers, our veterans, and our military families have earned much better than this. And our nation is better than one that would break its promises once a solider returns home. Rather than offer unsupported rhetoric to the nation’s service members, veterans, and military families, the President must change course and begin to match his words with action. The men and women of the armed forces â€" past, present and future â€" deserve nothing less.

â€Å"We must stand united in support of our veterans and troops, and today I ask the President and all Republicans to join Democrats in our ongoing non-partisan efforts to fully fund veterans’ health care, pass a new GI Bill of Rights, and end the disgraceful Disabled Veterans’ Tax. Let our deeds be worthy of the sacrifice of the great Americans who answered the call in our darkest hours.”