Congressman Joe Wilson Radio Address
 November 9, 2007

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TRANSCRIPT:

Hello, I’m Congressman Joe Wilson, and I have the privilege of representing South Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District, which stretches from our state’s beautiful capital of Columbia down to the Lowcountry with Parris Island, the Beaufort Naval Hospital, and the Beaufort Marine Air Station.

This district is also home to Fort Jackson, which is the Army’s largest initial entry training center.  Fort Jackson takes in half of all of our soldiers and 70 percent of the women who enter the Army each year.  In fact, just this week, I had the honor of joining President Bush when he paid a visit to 1,300 soldiers who graduated from combat basic training here at Fort Jackson.

In the days ahead, we will take time to salute those who have come before them – the veterans who have defended our nation with honor and distinction.  In the extraordinary lives they have led, our veterans have faced many moments of testing – answering the call to serve, saying goodbye to their loved ones, and watching their comrades fall from the line.

As the son of a veteran, as a veteran myself with 31 years of service in the Army Guard and Reserve, and as the father of four sons in the military today, I understand the sacrifices our veterans have made.  I know there is one thing we must do: we must keep the promises we have made to veterans.  

This year, I had the privilege to support legislation that provides for the largest increase in funding for our veterans in the 77-year history of the Veterans Administration, including $4.1 billion to improve VA facilities; $2.9 billion for mental health care and substance abuse treatment for veterans; and $480 million for prosthetic research to help wounded veterans retain a positive quality of life. The bill passed the House and Senate with near-unanimous votes.

Unfortunately, that was nearly five months ago, and in that time, Democrat leaders in Congress have used this legislation to play political games.  And now, with Veterans Day upon us, we do not have a bill to send to the President’s desk, because Democrats are withholding this funding in order to attach it to one of their budget-busting spending bills.

It is sad that the Democrat Congress found the time this week to consider a resolution providing for the impeachment of Vice President Cheney, but did not move along this critical funding for our veterans. That is completely unacceptable.

Right now, nearly 200,000 Americans serve in harm’s way in Iraq and Afghanistan, including my former unit, the 218th Brigade in Kabul.  All of them are volunteers, and at one point, one of them was my son in Iraq.  And just as he did, they will come home and a grateful nation will honor them for having done us proud.

But if we have not done right by their predecessors, what will our words be worth?

It is past time we, the elected representatives of the American people, give back to these brave patriots who have given themselves completely to the defense of our nation and the cause of freedom.

So in observing Veterans Day this weekend, I would ask you to contact your Representative in Washington and ask him or her what they have done to make sure our veterans get their funding.

Thank you for listening.