NH Congressional Delegation Focused on Work and War
By Daniel Remin
WASHINGTON — Eight days after the first bombs struck Iraq, Congress and New Hampshire’s lawmakers are going about their daily business, for the most part.
“We’re getting briefings every day from the State Department, Defense Department and, if necessary, Homeland Security,” Rep. Charlie Bass, R-N.H., said in an interview. “That’s the only change on a daily basis. We have a regular schedule this week, so the business of Congress is going along.”
With the thundering sounds and flaring images of bombs and missiles constantly lighting up the night sky in Iraq, ground troops speeding through the desert in tanks, pictures of injured or captured U.S. soldiers on television and recent reports that the war might take much longer than originally expected, Americans and members of Congress have focused much of their attention on the war. For the nation’s political leaders, however, life pretty much continues as planned.
The House could vote on President Bush’s $74.7 billion supplemental war budget request as early as next week. Yesterday, the House voted to pass the Amber Alert bill to help prevent child abductions.
Bass, along with New Hampshire’s other congressman, Rep. Jeb Bradley, R-N.H., said he thinks that Americans are keeping a close eye on the war. “I think members of Congress are watching very carefully the news and so forth, and responding to it,” he said.
“Like every other American, members of Congress are glued to their television set,” Bradley said in an interview. “From my point of view, I’m doing everything I guess that we can to show support for the troops publicly, to support the mission.”
With most Americans’ eyes on the war, and this being the first time journalists are “embedded” with military units, the media’s coverage of “Operation Iraqi Freedom” has become a controversial topic.
“I find that coverage has been exceptional,” Bradley said. “What I think it’s showing Americans at home is how dedicated these young men and women are who are defending our liberties.”
After spending the majority of the last two weeks voting on various amendments to the budget resolution for next year, the Senate approved it on Wednesday.
“The Senate continues to go about its business,” Jeff Turcotte, press secretary for Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., said in a statement. The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which Gregg chairs, met yesterday, Turcotte noted. “So business has not ground to a halt,” he said.
However, he said the war has prompted lots of talk and concern at the Capitol.
“While the Senate continues its business, the war in Iraq has been front and center for a great deal of discussion here,” Turcotte said. “I’m not sure it’s fair to classify the mood on the Hill as business ‘as usual.’ While the budget process is a predictable, annual event, obviously the thoughts and prayers of Senator Gregg are with the troops in Iraq.”
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge testified yesterday before the Senate Appropriations Committee on the President’s supplemental budget request.
Sen. John E. Sununu, R-N.H., said he doesn’t think it’s been “business as usual” in this time of war.
“This is an extraordinary circumstance,” he said. “National security issues, homeland security spending, are at the top of the priority list. On a day-to-day basis, we’re receiving top-secret briefings each morning that help to ensure senators have any information they need in making good policy decisions.”
(Daniel Remin is an intern with the Boston University Washington News Service.)
Published in The Manchester Union Leader, in New Hampshire.
