| Clyburn Champions Passage of Defense Appropriations Conference Report
Thursday, November 8, 2007
 Printable Format
WASHINGTON, DC—House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn today released the following statement regarding House passage of the Department of Defense Appropriations Conference Report.
“Today, the House of Representatives passed a funding initiative that appropriately funds and strongly supports our brave men and women gallantly serving in the United States Armed Services. The 2008 Department of Defense Appropriations bill not only provides our military personnel with the equipment that they will need to conduct their combat missions, but it also appropriates funds for programs that provide support services to those families stationed on U.S. military installations all around the world.
“Taking care of our troops means providing assistance to them not just when they are serving in harms way. True comprehensive support for our troops also entails implementing proposals that increase their wages, upgrade their health services, and adequately care for their dependent children. That’s why this appropriations package gives our soldiers a 3.5% pay raise, fully funds their TRICARE health plans, and renovates child care facilities on bases in the U.S., Europe, and Korea.
“I am also proud of funding I secured in this bill to implement the First Tee Life Skills program on military bases. It’s a character building program that will provide constructive recreational and educational opportunities to those children whose mothers and fathers are off defending our way of life. It gives their children the same kind of opportunities that our children have.
“The continuous sacrifices being made by our soldiers requires that we reward their service by taking care of them and their loved ones. This New Direction Congress is making it abundantly clear that it is no longer appropriate to ask our troops to perform first-class services to only have them receive sub-standard rewards in return.”
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