A demonrat spreading lies about H.R. 2998:

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[webber]

a demonrat spreading lies about H.R. 2998:

Congress can move fast when it wants. Only one day after a federal judge voided the Federal Trade Commission's "do-not-call" list designed to stop telemarketing calls from interrupting your dinner, the U.S. House passed legislation to keep the "do-not-call" list.

Appearing on C-SPAN, Joseph Anselmo a reporter for Congressional Quarterly said, "It's the fastest I've ever seen the House act."

According to the Associated Press, Representative Ed Markey said, "This legislation got to the House floor faster than a consumer can hang up on a telemarketer at dinnertime."

But while members of the U.S. House were ranting on the House floor about the need to keep telemarketers from interrupting everyone's dinner, wounded U.S. troops recovering in hospitals were being forced to pay for their dinners.

Congressman Bill Young (R-Florida) in a September 4th letter to his House colleagues wrote, "Upon being discharged from the hospital, our enlisted personnel and officers are served with a bill to pay for their 'subsistence' while in the hospital. The current daily rate for these charges is $8.10.

"We learned about this from our visits with Staff Sargeant William L. Murwin, who spent 26 days in the hospital recovering from injuries incurred in Iraq. Sergeant Murwin is a reservist in the Marine Corps who was injured when a 10-year-old Iraqi dropped a grenade in the HUMVEE he was driving. As a result of the explosion, Sergeant Murwin is a partial amputee, having lost a large part of his foot.

"Upon his discharge July 18th to return home to Nevada and his job as a sheriff's deputy, Sergeant Murwin was handed a bill from the hospital for $210.60 to pay for his food and subsistence. Beverely [Congressman Young's wife] and I paid this bill for Sergeant Murwin because we consider it an injustice to ask those who have served us so courageously in Afghanistan and Iraq to pay for their food while hospitalized because of their service."

To correct this injustice, Congressman Young introduced H.R. 2998 that would permanently stop charging troops injured in combat for food while hospitalized.

Congress is now considering President Bush's request to spend billions of dollars to reconstruct Iraq. We think Congress should first feed America's wounded troops.

Congress can move quickly when it wants. It rushed overnight new legislation to keep telemarketers from interrupting dinnertime. Congress should act with the same speed to provide injured troops recovering in hospitals with dinner.

Urge your U.S. representative to support H.R. 2998 and to work for its immediate passage.

To take action, go to http://capwiz.com/liberty/issues/bills/?bill=3536936

Kent Snyder The Liberty Committee http://www.thelibertycommittee.org

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Here is what these lying demonrats say H.R. 2998 says:

To amend title 10, United States Code, to exempt certain members of the Armed Forces from the requirement to pay subsistence charges while hospitalized. (Introduced in House)

HR 2998 IH
108th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2998

To amend title 10, United States Code, to exempt certain members of the Armed Forces from the requirement to pay subsistence charges while hospitalized.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 3, 2003

Mr. YOUNG of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services:

A BILL

To amend title 10, United States Code, to exempt certain members of the Armed Forces from the requirement to pay subsistence charges while hospitalized.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES FROM REQUIREMENT TO PAY SUBSISTENCE CHARGES WHILE HOSPITALIZED.

(a) IN GENERAL- Section 1075 of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by inserting `(a) IN GENERAL- ´ before `When´; and (2) by striking the second sentence and inserting the following:
`(b) EXCEPTIONS- Subsection (a) shall not apply to any of the following:
`(1) An enlisted member, or former enlisted member, of a uniformed service who is entitled to retired or retainer pay or equivalent pay.
`(2) An officer or former officer of a uniformed service, or an enlisted member or former enlisted member of a uniformed service not described in paragraph (1), who is hospitalized under section 1074 because of an injury incurred (as determined under criteria prescribed by the Secretary of Defense)--
`(A) as a direct result of armed conflict;
`(B) while engaged in hazardous service;
`(C) in the performance of duty under conditions simulating war; or
`(D) through an instrumentality of war.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE- Section 1075(b) of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and apply with respect to injuries incurred on or after that date.

Here's the URL for the FAKE H.R. 2998:
THE FAKE H.R. 2998

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Now read what the REAL H.R. 2998 reads:

Summary

H.R. 2998 provides for the establishment of Radio Free Afghanistan.  This bill authorizes the Broadcasting Board of Governors to make grants for surrogate radio broadcasting by RFE/RL, Incorporated (formerly known as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) to the people of Afghanistan in native languages. 

Not later than 15 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, RFE/RL, Incorporated, is required to submit a detailed plan for the establishment of surrogate radio broadcasting to the Broadcasting Board of Governors.

The Senate amendment provides $8 million in FY 2002 for international broadcasting operations and $9 million in FY 2002 for broadcasting capital improvements, a total of $17 million is funded.  The funds are to be available only for the establishment of Radio Free Afghanistan.

Background

This legislation enhances the number of hours of U.S. sponsored broadcasting into Afghanistan.  The enhanced service will be administered by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) through a grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG).

The BBG is the agency responsible for U.S. international broadcasting that includes RFE/RL, the Voice of America and Radio Free Asia. U.S. broadcasting to foreign countries is an important public diplomacy tool, especially during this time of a war against terrorism.

Through the Voice of America and RFE/RL some broadcasting is now being done in the relevant languages into Afghanistan.  However, concerns exist that U.S. broadcasting into Afghanistan is not sufficient to support U.S. interests in the country, or the interests of the Afghan people.

Therefore the legislation authorizes a more robust broadcasting program in the various languages spoken in Afghanistan in order to provide an alternative means of information for the people of Afghanistan.  Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is now in its 50th year of operation as a U.S. broadcaster and annually receives a grant to operate broadcasts to Eastern Europe, the countries of the former Soviet Union, Iran and Iraq.

Legislative History

H.R. 2998 was introduced by Rep. Royce on October 2, 2001.  It was reported from the International Relations Committee by voice vote on November 1, 2001. 

On Wednesday, November 7, 2001, the bill was agreed to in the House by a vote of 405 - 2 (Roll No. 429).  On February 7, 2002, the Senate agreed to the measure with an amendment by unanimous consent.  On February 12, 2002, the bill (concurring in Senate amendment) was agreed to by a vote of 421 - 2 (Roll No. 15).  On March 11, 2002, the bill became P.L. 107-148.

Cost Estimate

House Passed Bill

CBO estimates that implementing the bill will cost $25 million over the 2002-2006 period.

Because H.R. 2998 does not affect direct spending or receipts, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

Senate Passed Bill

CBO estimates that implementing the bill will cost $15 million over the 2002-2006 period.  Because S. 1779 will not affect direct spending or receipts, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

For additional information or questions, please contact the International Relations Committee at 5-5021.

The URL for the REAL H.R. 2998 is:
THE REAL H.R. 2998

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[Leroy S. Mort]

I suspect HR numbers are re-used with each new congress because the current HR 2998 is, indeed the subsistence exemption bill. See HERE

[RDangerfield]

Where in your post is the reference to a Democrat killing 2998? The Stars and Stripes wrote an editorial about this about two weeks ago. Both the S&S and Army Times are angry that neither the President nor the Pentagon will get behind Young's bill and other bills in Congress to increase our fighting troops' benefits. Instead, the administration has actually threatened a veto in some cases. It is obviously a travesty that soldiers get handed a bill for their food after being wounded, no matter what the law is. But if the administration would get behind it rather than giving millions to Iraq to set up zip codes, it would pass immediately. Your criticism seems to be misplaced. See these links for details:
Army Times Stars and Stripes
--Raoul

[Leroy S. Mort]

It ain't my post, Raoul. And as far as I know this bill is still active. You got different info?

[RDangerfield]

Sorry, Leroy, I apparently posted while your post was being logged. I should have addressed my post to "webber". The bill was introduced under that 2998 number in this Congress on Sept. 3, 2003, and has 240 co-sponsors, I believe. I cannot understand why the administration will not address this. I am on the service officer committee of my American Legion Post, being a Vietnam era veteran. If you read my links to Army Times and Stars and Stripes, you will find just how pissed these two publications are. You will also be amazed how many times the administration has tried to kill benefits, including a veto threat, and including some of their negative lobbying at the same time that the president was landing on the carrier. This is the same kind of stuff that we used to fry Clinton about.
--Raouol

[Leroy S. Mort]

Well. I'm a Viet era vet too (USAF '69-'72). Researching this bill I noticed that the original regs date from 1981 and were designed to eliminate "double-dipping" on the food allowance. Apparantly it hasn't been an issue until now, but , of course, there's an election coming up.

[RDangerfield]

Good point, Leroy. I'm sure there's a bit of grandstanding on the part of co-sponsors and Rep. Young. But if the posters on here are right and the news of combat deaths lowers morale in Iraq, imagine how a wounded guy or girl has a morale slump when the first thing they get handed to them before they leave the hospital is a bill for their food. If Bush is going to pay $54 f _ _ cking billion of our taxpayer money to build two prisons in Iraq at $50,000! per bed [actually in the $87 billion bill, you can look it up], can't we back off and let the wounded get their rations at the hospital without having to pay for them? Or are Karl Rove & Co. at the White House, who are advising Bush on vetoes, grandstanding about the media's coverage of Iraq while they cut troop benefits while the TV cameras are off? Hmmm. Food for thought, huh?
--Raoul

[RDangerfield]

Oops, I meant 54 million, not billion, for the prisons. I just get so pissed about this treatment of veterans and active duty guys by the administration who sucks up their votes, that I mis-typed the figure. One wonders how many meals that $54 million would buy for our wounded troops.
--Raoul

[KineticKitty]

You make a good point

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For example, the White House griped that various pay-and-benefits incentives added to the 2004 defense budget by Congress are wasteful and unnecessary — including a modest proposal to double the $6,000 gratuity paid to families of troops who die on active duty. This comes at a time when Americans continue to die in Iraq at a rate of about one a day.

Similarly, the administration announced that on Oct. 1 it wants to roll back recent modest increases in monthly imminent-danger pay (from $225 to $150) and family-separation allowance (from $250 to $100) for troops getting shot at in combat zones. {which military members deserved in the begining of this war, but no longer deserve?}

Taken piecemeal, all these corner-cutting moves might be viewed as mere flesh wounds. But even flesh wounds are fatal if you suffer enough of them. It adds up to a troubling pattern that eventually will hurt morale — especially if the current breakneck operations tempo also rolls on unchecked and the tense situations in Iraq and Afghanistan do not ease.

Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas, who notes that the House passed a resolution in March pledging “unequivocal support” to service members and their families, puts it this way: “American military men and women don’t deserve to be saluted with our words and insulted by our actions.”

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The one thing I regret about this post, is that I am quoting a democrat. And Democrats have no room to talk when it comes to the treatment of our military, but regardless it still applies to whom ever isn't treating the military in a manner that they should be.

There are a lot of people watching this (the proposed cutting, or benefits to the military being eroded), while listening to why we should spend 89 million on Iraq. If we cannot afford to fund our military properly, how can we fund the reconstruction of Iraq? (for any potential flamer's - I am not against the reconstruction of Iraq, BTW.)

[FreedomCalls]

The current Congress is the 107th. It convened in January of 2003 and will run until January of 2005. Each sitting of the Congress lasts two years and the bills introduced in each start over from 1 every time Congress is re-convened. A bill introduced in 2001 was in the 106th Congress. The 106th Congress ran from 2001 until 2002.

[webber]

your here link goes nowhere!

[Leroy S. Mort]

Sorry. The query expired. Look the bill up Here.

[Leroy S. Mort]

The current Congress is the 107th

It's the 108th, if I'm not mistaken.

[Leroy S. Mort]

Well the simple answer that wouldnt cost a cent is to transfer the soldier's regular food allowance to the hospital, but that's kinda straining at gnats.

[Leroy S. Mort]

Just watching Scarborough Country on MSNBC. Rep Young says the bill has been rolled into the Military Appropriations act and will be passed by the Senate and the President "with enthusiasm". A permanent bill will be signed next year. Case closed.

[RDangerfield]

Good news. Looks like someone at the White House read the Stars and Stripes editorial. Case closed? Maybe that one for 2998. Now, what about the rest of the list of benefit cuts by the White House and the entire "concurrent receipt" bill for veterans, H.R. 303, that Bush threatened to veto if it was part of the Defense Authorization bill? There were originally 350 sponsors, both R and D, until the veto threat, and then Republicans ran for cover. Seems like strange behavior in war time. Thanks for the update, Leroy.
--Raoul

[FreedomCalls]

It's the 108th, if I'm not mistaken.

You are correct. I was off by one.