Letter: To Representative Ike Skelton, Committee on Armed Services

Letter

Dear Chairman Skelton:

Recent press articles have indicated that some of our colleagues within the House of Representatives may attempt to include contentious Iraq-related language in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2008. Doing so would increase the risk of either a failed vote on the House floor or a veto by the Commander in Chief. Knowing that each committee member fully supports the interests and well-being of our troops, such a result would be inconsistent with the long-standing principles of the Committee on Armed Services. Therefore, we urge you to resist any attempts to include any such language in the NDAA.

Such matters should be deliberately addressed by this committee, in a separate venue, per regular order absent any special rules. An issue, that is as important as the Iraq war, deserves open debate, discussion, and analysis by this body prior to implementing any major changes to our military's capabilities and missions.

We appreciate your personal attention to the matter and look forward to continuing our bipartisan work on such vital policy concerns.

Very truly yours,