House Passes U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Accountability Act

Press Release

House Passes U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Accountability Act

Congresswoman Darlene Hooley (D-OR-5) released the following statement today after the House of Representatives passed by a margin of 218-212 the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act:

"Today is an historic moment for us all. The Congress of the United States is demanding of our President and his administration and the Iraqi government something that has been missing for the last four years: accountability.

"In this vote today, we support our troops on the battlefield with critical equipment, personnel, and logistical investments. We also confront our veterans' health care crisis at home, which was so clearly demonstrated by the recent revelations of appalling conditions at Walter Reed and veterans facilities. We have provided additional resources for stateside troops to help them retool and repair their systems that have been depleted through these last several years. And most importantly, we've also set specific benchmarks of progress in Iraq and a responsible timeline for a phased redeployment of U.S. troops by no later than August 2008.

"Charting a new political course and turning over Iraq's security to Iraqis is imperative so that we can bring our troops home safely and quickly. The American people have been calling for a new way forward in Iraq. That begins with the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act, and it begins today."

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