Holt Statement on the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill
HOLT STATEMENT ON THE EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) today issued the following statement on the passage of the emergency supplemental appropriations bill:
"I voted against this measure because it continues the process of funding a war we have yet to properly debate and for which we've provided inadequate oversight. We have been asked, yet again, to fund an open-ended military commitment that lacks a clear exit strategy. Our nation has lost nearly 2500 dead, has seen more than 18,000 wounded, and has spent in excess of $300 billion on military operations in Iraq since March 2003. Billions are not accounted for. Yet, the insurgency shows no signs of weakening. Our forces have done all that we have asked them, and all that it is possible for them to do. It is time for the United States forces to make a transition out of Iraq.
"America's role must shift to that of being an advisor and trainer for Iraqi forces instead of being the prime combatant. We must hand over the day-to-day responsibility for combating the insurgents to the Iraqi forces, and redeploy our forces from Iraq in order to rest, refit, and reconfigure our military to meet the ongoing threats in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
"Some of the other non-military expenditures in the bill are good, but the central part of the billsupplemental funding for the U.S. war in Iraqis too badly flawed to allow me to support any worthy pieces of funding."
http://www.holt.house.gov/list/press/nj12_holt/061306a.html