“Today, the Democratic Leadership of the House of Representatives released their plan for the supplemental spending request to fund the war in . I will support passage of this plan.
This spending request sends a strong message to our troops and the Iraqis that we are fully supporting our troops by providing them with the training, equipment and services they need to serve and protect the . However, this plan also holds the President accountable and sends a clear message to the leaders of that they must take charge of their own country.
This bill fulfills our promise to support and care for our brave veterans by providing additional funding for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.
Importantly, this bill provides for the redeployment of our troops from by the Spring of 2008 – which is the position I have taken all along.
I support the deadlines this bill institutes, including the immediate redeployment of US troops from if key benchmarks, as set forth by the President in his January 10, 2007 address to the nation, are not met.
Of critical importance, this bill refocuses our nation on the war on terror against Al-Qaeda and . This is critical to our national security.
Today, the House Democrats have put forth a clear plan that strikes the careful balance of providing for the health, safety and welfare of our troops that are so valiantly protecting the freedom of our nation, but provides a path to end this war in .
This is the kind of change and new direction our nation deserves.”
