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Iraqi National Assembly 2-Month Recess

Floor Speech

Date: June 12, 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Defense Foreign Affairs


IRAQI NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 2-MONTH RECESS -- (House of Representatives - June 12, 2007)

(Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, the Iraqi National Assembly plans to take its regularly scheduled 2-month summer recess starting in July. Taking such an extended break demonstrates a lack of urgency on their part and political will on the part of the Iraqi parliament.

Defense Secretary Gates told a Senate hearing last month, ``I'll be blunt: I told some of the Iraqis with whom I met that we are buying them time for political reconciliation, and that every day we buy it with American blood. For this group to go out for 2 months, it would, in my opinion, be unacceptable.''

Accordingly, I have introduced H. Res. 469, which expresses the sense of the House that the Iraqi National Assembly should cancel or postpone its 2-month recess and work towards meeting political, social and military benchmarks. I urge my colleagues to join with me in sending a message to the Iraqi parliament that they must work to fulfill their obligations.


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