Ellison Supports McGovern Iraq / Emergency Supplemental Bills

Press Release

Ellison Supports McGovern Iraq / Emergency Supplemental Bills

Representative Keith Ellison released the following statement.

"I am happy that we had a vote on immediate withdrawal under H.R. 2237. Although the vote failed 171 to 255, I'm glad to see that a clear majority of Democrats voted for it and two Republicans joined us. The momentum is clearly building to stop the madness of this war. People who love peace must continue to raise their voices.

This legislation specifically requires the Department of Defense to begin redeployment of armed forces and military contractors no later than 90 days after the date of enactment and shall be completed within 180 days of the start of redeployment. Additionally, no funds may be obligated or expended to increase the number of troops above the level of troops who were serving in Iraq as of January 1, 2007.

I am hopeful the strength of this vote will send an unmistakable message to the President. I am confident that those of us who have opposed this war from the very beginning will continue to grow in numbers, and continue to bring this legislative language before the Congress at every opportunity until we succeed. I am equally confident, with the American people behind us, we will succeed.

That is why I will also support the FY 2007 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill, another vehicle to end this war. This vote requires the President to come back to the Congress in July and report on benchmarks of progress by the Iraqi government. This bill is phase one of the previous Iraq War Supplemental bill. It has a July timeline when Congress will once again vote for or against continued funding of this war.

This bill is a drive toward peace, and we won't stop until we achieve it. This vote holds the President accountable, and his promised veto affirms that.

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