This bill would authorize an increase of 13.000 in end strength for the Army and 9.000 for the Marine Corps. But what do we do instead of passing the legislation that would provide that additional authorization? We hijack this Defense authorization bill to talk about hate crimes and perhaps immigration and other unrelated issues. This bill authorizes a pay increase of $135 billion for our men and women in uniform. people who deserve everything we can do for them when it comes to providing for them or reducing some of their financial burdens. This bill authorizes $135 billion in additional pay. But what does the majority leader do? He says we are going to take another timeout after 15 days and we are going to talk about hate crimes. potentially immigration. and who knows what else. further burdening this bill with amendments which may jeopardize our ability to pass it in the end. This bill also provides for a 3.5percent increase in pay for all our troops. To the point of the GAO report. which I cited that has been reported in one of the Hill newspapers today. this bill would authorize $24.6 billion for the Defense health program. including a $1.9 billion adjustment to fund TRICARE benefits for fiscal year 2008.
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immigration