Debate on Iraq funding

Washington, May 10, 2007 -

U.S. Congressman Phil Gingrey, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, rebuked two pieces of Democrat legislation today before the U.S. House of Representatives.  H.R. 2237 provided for the immediate withdrawal of our troops from Iraq, and H.R. 2206 truncated funding for our troops by only supporting three months of military activity.  Gingrey made the following remarks:

“I wish Democrat leaders were as responsive to the needs of our military as they are to the demands of the liberal left.  These bills, one that gives up on Iraq, and one that says our support is only good for the next three months, are clear capitulations to the liberal agents that drive this majority.

“More than three months have passed since the President requested emergency funding for our troops.  Over the past 94 days, the Democrats have succeeded only in putting politics over policy, and trying to substitute their judgment for that of our combatant commanders.  For 94 days, they have chosen to beat their chests at press conferences, rather than finding ways to actually get our troops the funding they need for victory.  Most astoundingly, in the past 94 days, Democrats have never once grasped the consequences of resigning ourselves to defeat in Iraq. 

“Today, each of us had a critical decision to make.  I hope every American will ask his or her Representative: did you stand on the side of victory, or on the side of defeat?  Did you stand with our troops, or with those who want to abandon them?   Did you rise to the challenges of fostering freedom, or did you capitulate to the political pressures of special interests?  The choice was ours.  For the sake of our soldiers and our nation, we needed to choose wisely.  

“So far, this body has debated legislation to express disapproval of the President’s plan, to tie funding to arbitrary withdrawal deadlines, to abandon Iraq immediately, and to provide piecemeal funding for several months at a time.  What we haven’t debated is clean legislation that gives our troops the support they need to beat these terrorists.  Perhaps the new leadership doesn’t realize the privileges of the majority come with a responsibility to govern.  Let me say to them: the time for tantrums is over.  Let’s stop debating legislation that concedes defeat, and start supporting ways we can move forward toward victory.”

H.R. 2237 failed to pass the House; H.R. 2206 passed the House, but is not expected to be considered in the Senate.