Politics

Pelosi Statement on Supplemental Funding Bill for Iraq and Afghanistan

By Office of the Speaker

Washington, D.C. ? Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement in advance of the House?s consideration of a supplemental funding bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan later this week:

?President Bush insists on war without end in Iraq, but Democrats in Congress stand with Americans who want to bring our troops home responsibly, safely and soon, and with taxpayers who believe that the Iraqi government must begin to pay its fair share for the reconstruction of their country.

?With Americans confronting an economy teetering on the brink of recession and struggling to afford rising prices, we are extending unemployment benefits for those searching for work and supporting a new GI Bill to help make the veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan part of our economic recovery.

?Democrats are putting rebuilding America on par with the President?s priorities. We have crafted an Iraq plan the President should sign?and one that makes the economic needs of the American people a priority once again.?

Background:

This week, the House is scheduled to consider three amendments to supplemental funding bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In addition to the war funding, an Iraq accountability amendment will place tough restrictions on the use of funding, begin the redeployment of U.S. troops, and require the Iraqi government to begin to pay for the reconstruction of their country.

A domestic priorities amendment will include the new GI Bill to provide college scholarships to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars; it will also include an extension of unemployment insurance benefits for those who have lost their jobs; job losses have totaled more than 260,000 since the beginning of the year.

Full post as published by The Gavel on May 06, 2008 (boomark / email).