Jones Says Our Veterans Should Be Congress' Top Priority

Third district Congressman Walter B. Jones and senior House Armed Services Committee Member today spoke passionately on the House floor during the debate on H.R. 2861, the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act. A tireless advocate for the veterans of America, especially the tens of thousands of whom live in Eastern North Carolina, Congressman Jones spoke out today about the need for Congress to stick to their original budget plan for Veterans passed in the Conference report in early April. Congressman Jones was one of several Members in April who held out on their vote until an early morning promise from House Budget Chairman Jim Nussle assured Mr. Jones and his colleagues that the fiscal year 2004 budget would include an additional $1.8 billion for veterans programs. The nearly $2 billion in added funding would eliminate expected cuts to veterans disability and education programs. Unfortunately, the appropriations bill being debated in the House today is $1.8 billion less than the budget amount Congressman Jones and other concerned Members had agreed to with Chairman Nussle. Jones is actively working with House Veterans Affairs Chairman Chris Smith, numerous veterans organizations, and others to once again avoid the funding shortfall. "Veterans should be number one in this Congress," Congressman Jones said today. "We should be willing to take care of those who were more than willing to sacrifice their lives to take care of us. I count it a great privilege to represent men and women in uniform, past and present. These are the heroic Americans who are willing to die to protect the very laws we create. For that reason, we must ensure we are representing them fairly and giving them the funding they need and most importantly, the funding they deserve." For additional information or to schedule an interview with Congressman Jones contact Lanier Swann at (202) 225-3415 or via email at lanier.swann@mail.house.gov.