Cole: "Now is Not the Time for a Vacation"

Congress must work through Memorial Day recess to produce a clean funding bill

WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. Congressman Tom Cole (OK-4) today joined nearly every member of the Republican Conference in sending a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) calling her to keep the House in session until Congress sends President Bush a clean funding bill that he will sign into law.

"As we speak, our men and women in uniform are in a foreign land fighting for our country. They fight everyday for our freedoms. There is no vacation from their mission, and right now they need Congress to give them what they need." Congressman Cole said. "It has been over 100 days since the Pentagon has sent their request for resources, and for over 100 days, Congress has denied our troops the resources they have asked for to successfully complete their mission."

The letter was sent to Speaker Pelosi eight days before Congress is scheduled to adjourn for the Memorial Day recess. Legislative business is not scheduled to resume until June 5th.

"This is not the time for politics. Our troops desperately need us to supply them with resources, and time is running out," Congressman Cole continued. "Memorial Day is the time to honor our soldiers, not the time to take a vacation and put off supplying them with the resources they need. We need to postpone our summer break and work together to produce a clean bill that the President can sign into law."

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