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| Maloney Statement on U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act |
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Today we are considering funding legislation for the war in Iraq which unfortunately does not include the timelines for bringing the troops home that I and many of my colleagues have supported previously. While I strongly believe that we must provide the troops with the resources that they need to do their jobs, I cannot support an amendment that would leave them in Iraq indefinitely. The intent of the benchmarks included in this amendment seems to be to send an important signal to the Iraqi government that it must make progress on the political, economic, and security fronts. I know that we all want to see that happen, but it is up to those of us in Congress who are committed to ending this war to ensure that the Administration and the Iraqi government realize that we, and the American people, will not accept any more blank checks or false promises. I do intend to support the amendment that will be offered to provide more than $20 billion for several key domestic items that have been part of the Democratic Majority’s agenda. This amendment includes $1.8 billion for veterans’ health care as well as funding for military health care, children’s health care, and Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts. I am very pleased that this amendment includes the minimum wage increase that millions of hard-working Americans have been waiting on for a decade. I also want to commend Chairman Obey and the Appropriations Committee for including $50 million for Ground Zero workers and responders who risked their lives and are now suffering devastating health effects because of their brave service following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment so that we will provide long overdue relief to those Americans who need it. I am pleased to note that the rule, which I supported, that provided for consideration of these amendments ensures that before any further supplemental appropriations bills to fund the war can be considered, a vote must occur on legislation to redeploy U.S. troops from Iraq. I am disappointed that the bill that will be sent to the President does not set out a clear path to end the war in Iraq. However, I and my colleagues who agree on this issue will continue to work for what the American people overwhelmingly voted for in November: a new direction, both in Iraq and at home. |