Statement by Rep. Mike Thompson on Iraq War Vote

Statement

Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) released the following statement today on the passage of the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act:

"I voted for this bill because it provides vital funding to protect our troops in Iraq and ensure our veterans get the care they deserve. It also - for the first time since this war began four years ago - holds the Bush Administration and the Iraqi government accountable through firm benchmarks and sets a responsible timeline for redeployment of U.S. troops.

"By passing this bill today, the new Majority in the House has made a statement to the President that we will not rubberstamp his open-ended commitment to a failed strategy in Iraq. The new Majority is committed to taking our country and the Iraq War in a new direction.

"Even though the President has threatened to veto this bill, I stand behind it because it protects our troops and veterans, who have given so much to their country, and because it is an important step toward bringing our troops home and charting a new course for our country."

Background on the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act

The U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act provides greater protections for our troops and veterans than those requested by the President, including $1.7 billion more for military health care, including for Walter Reed and other hospitals, $1.7 billion more for veterans' health care, $2.5 billion more for improving the readiness of our stateside troops, and $1.4 billion more for military housing allowances. It also re-focuses our efforts to fight terrorism on al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan by provides $1.2 billion more than the President originally requested for Afghanistan.

The bill also sets deadlines for redeployment based on firm benchmarks for the Bush Administration and Iraqi government. If the President fails to report to Congress on July 1, 2007 that real progress is underway on key benchmarks, redeployment of U.S. troops begins immediately and must be completed within 180 days. If the President fails to certify that Iraq has met the benchmarks on October 1, 2007, a redeployment of U.S. troops begins immediately and must be completed within 180 days. In any case, at the latest, a redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq must begin by March 1, 2008, and must be completed by August 31, 2008.

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