mr. chairman , i thank the gentleman from south carolina ( mr. spratt ) xz4003860 for his leadership on this budget matter . 
shame , shame , shame . 
i can not believe the republican budget . 
our men and women that serve this country are putting their lives on the line , and what are we doing ? 
cutting benefits and refusing service . 
i am reminded of the words of the first president of the united states , george washington , whose words are worth repeating over and over again . 
`` the willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war , no matter how justified , should be directly proportional as to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars are treated and appreciated. '' the independent budget puts support by the veterans community as $ 300 billion short . 
i say that president bush 's budget and the house republican bush budget should be dead on arrival . 
let me repeat that . 
i said that bush 's budget and the house republican budget as it relates to veterans should be dead on arrival . 
on top of all of this , this budget tells the veteran 's affairs committee , which i am on , to find $ 800 million in cuts over the next 5 years for savings . 
you know , the republicans practice what i call reverse robin hood , robbing from the veterans to give tax cuts to the rich . 
the president keeps telling us we are at war . 
well , put your money where your mouth is . 
