Statement of U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek Regarding His Opposition to H.Res. 861, a Resolution on the War in Iraq

Statement of U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek Regarding His Opposition to H.Res. 861, a Resolution on the War in Iraq

U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek released the following statement on H. Res. 861, the Republican resolution on the War in Iraq. The measure passed the U.S. House of Representatives this morning by a vote of 256 to 153, with five members voting present. Congressman Meek voted against the resolution.

"Republicans aren't interested in debating or discussing the merits or conduct of the War in Iraq; they only want to play politics with it.

"Republicans wrote this resolution. Democrats were not consulted or allowed any input. Republicans then rigged the process and outlawed any amendments, so that the only real choice in voting was not yea or nay, but take it or leave it.

"There are serious issues we have to discuss that are being ignored.

"The War in Iraq has cost our country $320 billion so far—money we have had to borrow—and it will no doubt cost hundreds of billions more. It has cost the lives of 2,500 American service men and women and more than 18,300 have been wounded. The needs of our veterans are being shortchanged. Some of our troops are on their fourth deployment since 2001. Our military readiness is affected because we are wearing out both our equipment and our troops. And House Republicans are still pretending that the War Against Terror somehow has to be fought in the same basic way we fought in Korea and Vietnam.

"The American people deserve better than a sham resolution and a staged debate."

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