Washington, DC- Today, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee joined a majority in the House of Representatives and backed legislation that will redeploy our troops and offer a new direction for Iraq. The Orderly and Responsible Iraq Redeployment Appropriations Act.

"Young men and women from Houston, Texas are risking their lives in Iraq and more of the same is unacceptable," said Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. "Our plan redeploys our troops, holds President Bush accountable and will bring about a new direction in Iraq."

The legislation approved by the House calls for the redeployment of American troops from Iraq and a change in mission for U.S. forces on the ground. Specifically, the bill:

• Requires the redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq to begin within 3
• 0 days of the bill being signed into law, with a target for completion of December 15, 2008
• Requires a transition in the mission of US forces in Iraq from primarily combat to: force and diplomatic protection, limited support for Iraqi security forces and targeted counterterrorism operations
• Prohibits deployment of any troops not fully equipped and trained, but allows the President to waive this prohibition only if the national security of the United States is in danger
• Prohibits all US government agencies from engaging in torture
  

“This important bill contains a portion of my legislation , H.R 930, 'Military Success in Iraq and Diplomatic Surge for National and Political Reconciliation in Iraq Act of 2007.' This legislation recognizes the extraordinary performance of the Armed Forces in achieving the military objectives of the United States in Iraq, calls for our military men and women of the diplomatic surge to bring about national and political reconciliation and provides for an orderly redeployment out of the region,” continued Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

President Bush has asked Congress for an additional nearly $200 billion for Iraq, which would bring the total cost of the Iraq war to more than $600 billion. Additionally, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that, under the President’s policies, the costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could total $2.4 trillion through the next decade. The bill passed by the House provides $50 billion to meet the immediate needs of our troops, but defers consideration of the remainder of the President’s nearly $200 billion request.

"Congress will no longer offer President Bush a blank check for war,” added Congresswoman Jackson Lee.

"After more than four years, billions of dollars and thousands of lives lost, I will not rubber-stamp the Bush plan for more of the same."

The Iraq war is already longer than U.S. participation in World War II, World War I, the Korean War, and the Civil War. More than 3,850 U.S. troops have lost their lives and more than 28,000 have been wounded. 

 

 

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