Chambliss Criticizes Democratic Leaders for Pulling Defense Funding Bill

Press Release

U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today criticized Democratic leaders in the Senate for pulling the fiscal year 2008 defense authorization bill from the floor after they failed to get the necessary votes to move forward with a proposal to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq.

"Here we are in the middle of a war, and the Democrats insisted on moving forward with their self-proclaimed ‘publicity stunt.' They knew all along their vote would fail and the folks who really lose in all this are the men and women in uniform and the American people looking for safety and security," said Chambliss.

The defense authorization bill includes numerous provisions sponsored by Senator Chambliss such as care for wounded warriors, retirement benefits for members of the National Guard and Reserve, as well as pay increases, equipment and funding for Georgia military installations including Fort Stewart, Fort Benning, Robins Air Force Base, and Fort Gordon.

The bill also authorizes funds for the following Georgia made-weapon systems:

* $3.7 billion for 20 F-22A aircraft
* $800 million for 9 C-130J's
* $400 million for C-5 modernization, which will replace outdated engine flight instruments and flight system components with state of the art technology for the C-5 fleet.
* $268 million for 4 KC-130J's
* $157 million for Utility Fixed Wing Aircraft (Joint Cargo Aircraft)
* $773 million for 42 UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters for the Army
* An additional $495 million for 7 KC-130J's and $888 million for 13 C-130J's is funded in the war-related Global War on Terrorism request.

"Democratic leaders continue to advocate for withdrawal from Iraq without providing any alternatives," said Chambliss, who recently made his fifth visit to Iraq. "They proclaimed the new security strategy a failure even before all the troops were on the ground, and while they unanimously confirmed General Petraeus to implement the strategy they refuse to give him time to do just that. We should have a serious debate about the war and its consequences, but the continued political theater undermines our troops and our national security." Chambliss also noted that the U.S. military announced today that the top Iraqi leader of al-Qaeda has been captured.

On Tuesday evening, Democratic leaders participated in an anti-war rally held by the liberal political organization MoveOn.org on Capitol Hill.

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