Correcting the Record: Veterans Appropriations Bills

Rep. Chet Edwards responded to Republican criticisms that the veterans appropriations bill is late during the Budget Committee hearing this morning:

Rep. Edwards: "Mr. Chairman, in response to my friend and colleague Mr. Conaway's comments, let me say into the record that last year under Republican leadership this Congress failed to even pass a VA appropriations bill. Yet this year we're hearing Republican concerned we're now 24 days into the new fiscal year. 2006 they didn't pass it until November 30th; 2005, December 8th; 2004, January 23rd; 2003, February 20th; 2002, November 26th. It seems that the concern that Republicans have today, this year under Democratic leadership in the Congress -- which has increased veterans spending by $5.2 billion already this year -- seems like there's a lot more concern than there was during the 10 years Republicans were in control. And by the way the last time Republicans passed a VA appropriations bill on time was 1996."