A Call for a Vote Regarding Ending the War in Afghanistan

Floor Speech

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, last night in the Rules Committee, we witnessed the very definition of political cowardice. For the second time in 3 years, the Republican leadership of this House refused to make a thoughtful, germane, and bipartisan amendment on Afghanistan in order to the defense authorization bill.

The rule we will debate later today makes in order 162 amendments--162. There were amendments on everything from deferred retirement for military chaplains to charging admission to air shows and to ensuring public access to Rattlesnake Mountain.

But we can't have a debate and a vote on holding the administration accountable for ending the war in Afghanistan?

Because we are at war, Mr. Speaker. I know that we don't like to talk about it around here, and I know that some of my colleagues would rather bury their heads in the sand and hope it goes away, but our troops and their families deserve a debate, and Congress has the responsibility to give it to them.

But no. But no. I don't know what the Republican leadership is afraid of, but this is outrageous, and I am not going to stand for it.

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