Senator Reid: Defense Authorization Bill Gives Troops Tools They Need To Do Their Jobs

October 1, 2007 -- Washington, DC — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the following statement today after the Senate passed the Department of Defense Authorization bill:

“The Defense Authorization bill we passed today makes critical investments to responsibly repair the Armed Forces where our Commander-in-Chief has so badly mismanaged them. As President Bush’s flawed Iraq strategy stretches our military to its breaking point, we are addressing troop-readiness problems and ensuring our troops and National Guard members have the equipment and training they need to do their jobs.

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“Our bill provides funding for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs) that save our troops’ lives, reiterates the importance of political reconciliation remaining Iraqis’ primary goal, establishes a commission to study wartime contracting abuses, supports veterans’ small-business ventures and strengthens existing federal authority to prosecute hate crimes. It also gives our troops a well-deserved pay raise and ensures returning troops get the health care and retirement benefits they were promised when they enlisted.”

Source: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid