Support the Troops and Fully Fund Iraq Troop Withdrawal

Press Release

Support the Troops and Fully Fund Iraq Troop Withdrawal

Congressman Keith Ellison (MN-05) joined Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (CA-06), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09), Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-35), Congressman Llyod Doggett (TX-25), and other members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) to advocate for full funding for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

The press conference was held in order to unveil the Congressional Progressive Caucus plan to support our troops and fully fund their withdrawal from Iraq by December 31, 2007. The plan is embedded in an amendment to the Iraq War supplemental appropriation bill they hope to offer from Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Congressman Ellison's statement follows:

"I am honored to stand here today with Congresswomen Woolsey, Lee, and Waters. When Congress voted in 2002 to give the President the authority to go into Iraq, these leaders of the Progressive Caucus were right to oppose the war authorization. They were right then and they are right now.

"On the campaign trial this fall, Iraq was the main issue I heard over and over again.

"I was elected this past November for one main reason - my commitment to end the war in Iraq, and bring our troops home. In fact, we owe our majority - in large part - to the American public who voted for change.

"Our troops have done everything we have asked them. They searched for weapons for mass destruction when there were no WMDs. They found and captured Saddam Hussein. They have performed remarkably and we are all honored by their service.

"The path to a secure Iraq is in the diplomatic arena. Our military leaders have made this point. It is up to us as Members of Congress to develop a plan that fully funds our withdrawal from Iraq and to propose a plan to engage our key allies and countries in the region to bring stability to Iraq."

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