Rep. Foster Votes for a New American Contract With Our Soldiers

Press Release

Rep. Foster Votes for a New American Contract With Our Soldiers

Rep. Bill Foster (IL-14) released the following statement today after Republicans and Democrats joined together to pass a new GI Bill:

"Our heroes abroad are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan to protect America's freedom and future. For them, we call on the economic heroes here at home to help fund the new GI Bill. By doing so, we ensure that the men and women who fought so valiantly for our country are given the tools they need to succeed when they return home to the land they so dutifully served to protect.
Our soldiers are fighting in Afghanistan and around the world to prevent another attack on American soil. We must honor our brave men and women in uniform who are fighting so that we, back at home, never have to live through another day like September 11, 2001. I voted for the legislation today because it upholds the principal that when the time is right to do the right thing, the burden is not only placed on the middle-class, but is instead born by those affluent Americans who have the most to protect.

Like the commitment we made to our soldiers nearly 70 years ago, let us reaffirm that support in this new GI Bill so that our warriors for freedom can someday soon return home and begin to build their lives, and our future, anew. To help one another is truly the American way.
I am proud to have also voted to support our troops while placing strong conditions on the war in Iraq, requiring that troops begin redeployment from Iraq within 30 days with a goal of completing withdrawal of combat troops in 18 months. These conditions also require that any agreement between the U.S. and the Iraqi Government committing U.S. forces be specifically authorized by Congress and that U.S. reconstruction aid for Iraq be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Iraqi Government. Furthermore, the legislation requires an agreement with Iraqi Government to subsidize fuel costs for U.S. Armed Services operating in Iraq, creates fraud and profiteering penalties for contractors in Iraq, prohibits permanent bases in Iraq and prohibits torture."

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