Statement by Congressman Todd Platts on the 2007 Supplemental Appropriations Bill
On March 23, 2007, the full House of Representatives voted 218-212 to pass an "emergency" supplemental appropriations bill (H.R. 1591) for fiscal year 2007. On March 29, 2007, the Senate voted 51-47 to pass a similar bill. Differences between the two versions of the bill must still be resolved. Congressman Platts voted against H.R. 1591. His statement explaining the reasons for his vote follows:
"Our troops must be provided with the best possible training and best possible equipment when they are put into harm's way in defense of our nation. As such, Congress should have passed an unencumbered appropriations bill to fully fund the needs of U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Votes on the U.S. mission in Iraq and non-emergency domestic spending priorities should have been held separately. I am deeply disappointed to say that the needs of our troops are being held hostage by domestic politics.
On an issue of life-and-death importance such as the War on Terrorism, Members of Congress must vote their conscience and their convictions. H.R. 1591 jeopardizes the mission of our troops in Iraq by establishing politically-driven deadlines for withdrawal. Advertising to our enemies a date certain for withdrawal-in this case, August of 2008 or even sooner-simply encourages and emboldens them.
The process by which the votes to pass H.R. 1591 were secured is also something that cannot go unnoted. Officially entitled the 'U.S. Troop Readiness Act,' H.R. 1591 contains billions and billions of dollars in spending that has nothing to do with U.S. troop readiness. Extraneous provisions include $120 million for the shrimp industry, $100 million for citrus growers, $74 million for peanut storage, $25 million for spinach producers and handlers, and $35 million for NASA. Total, H.R. 1591 contains $20 billion more in spending than was requested by the President.
My vote of 'no' was my vote of conscience and conviction. I wish I could have voted for a true military readiness bill, with separate votes on the issues of withdrawal from Iraq and domestic spending priorities, but these opportunities were not presented. As the process moves forward, I ask House leaders to reconsider both the substance of this bill and the process by which it was passed."
Web Page Highlights (www.house.gov/platts)
Reps. Markey and Platts Introduce Legislation to Increase Fuel Efficiency
Representatives Edward Markey (D-MA) and Todd Platts introduced a bill to increase fuel efficiency standards for new cars. Under the bill (H.R. 1506), the fleet-wide average for new cars and light-trucks would gradually increase to 35 miles per gallon by 2018, decreasing oil consumption in the United States by approximately 10%.
(http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa19_platts/fuelefficiency.html)
Whistleblower, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Measures Advance
The full House of Representatives voted to pass two bipartisan government reform bills long advocated by Congressman Platts. The first (H.R. 985) would strengthen protections for employees who blow the whistle on waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. The second (H.R. 1309) would improve the ability of citizens to obtain information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). More information, including Congressman Platts' statements on the House floor, can be found on the web site.
(http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa19_platts/goodgovernment.html)
(http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/pa19_platts/whistleblower2007.html)
(http://www.house.gov/list/speech/pa19_platts/FOIA2007.html)
Last Month
The following is a list of some key votes taken by the United States House of Representatives during the month of March of 2007:
Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Resolution (H. Con. Res. 99)
The House voted 216-210 to adopt a budget framework for fiscal year 2008. The resolution effectively calls for a tax increase of $392 billion over five years. This is equal to the amount which would be raised if tax relief enacted in 2001 and 2003 was allowed to expire, thereby reducing the child tax credit, increasing income tax rates, and reinstating both the marriage penalty and death tax. Congressman Platts voted against H. Con. Res. 99.
Wounded Warrior Assistance (H.R. 1538)
The House voted 426-0 to pass legislation drafted to address the sort of problems found at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The legislation would require more caseworkers to be assigned to manage veterans' cases, establish a corps of service member advocates to assist in resolving problems encountered with the military bureaucracy, and create a toll-free hotline for reporting deficiencies in veterans' facilities. H.R. 1538 would also launch a pilot program aimed at more quickly and efficiently transferring records from the Department of Defense to the Department of Veterans Affairs when service members leave the military. Congressman Platts voted in favor of H.R. 1538.
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