Griffith Applauds U.S. Soldiers For Accomplishments In Afghanistan

Press Release

Congressman Parker Griffith supported military troops today by voting against legislation that would undermine the mission of the U.S. and its allies in Afghanistan. The Resolution, H.Con.Res. 248, uses the War Powers Resolution of 1973 to direct the President to remove the United States Armed Forces from Afghanistan.

"We are sending the wrong message to our troops bringing this bill to the floor," said Griffith. "The American soldiers bravely serving overseas, away from their families and loved ones, are sacrificing everything to defend our freedoms. Soldiers serving in Afghanistan have worked hard to bring about order to the country and have been successful in capturing numerous Taliban leaders and liberating key areas of Afghanistan.

"The accomplishments the soldiers have made in Afghanistan should be applauded, not diminished. Forcing our troops to leave Afghanistan now will be interpreted by the terrorists that we are weak. It could embolden the enemy and put our brave men and women in greater danger."

As military and national defense remains the foundation of North Alabama, Griffith does not believe that Congress should be considering legislation that lowers the morale of our troops. He believes America must support troops' efforts to help them successfully complete their mission, and therefore, voted against the resolution today.

"These soldiers serving in Afghanistan have been engaged in the largest offensive since the beginning of the war there, and have been successful. I will continue to remain committed to providing these troops the resources they need to successfully complete their mission," said Griffith.

On December 1, 2009, President Obama ordered a troop surge of 30,000 to begin in early 2010. Since then, United States Armed Forces have been deployed to the Afghanistan theatre in support of the implementation of our nation's counterinsurgency strategy.

Today, Griffith voted against H.Con.Res. 248, which uses the War Powers Resolution of 1973 to direct the President to remove the United States Armed Forces from Afghanistan by no later than the end of the period of 30 days beginning on the day on which this concurrent resolution is adopted.

Griffith is concerned about the constitutionality of the War Powers Resolution as it historically has been controversial due to the question of whether the Resolution blurs the lines between Legislative and Executive branch authority. He believes that this resolution is ill advised, fundamentally flawed and endangers our national security.

Griffith is a staunch supporter of the military and veterans as north Alabama and the soldiers who call the Tennessee Valley home are a critical component of national and international defense. In 2009, Griffith worked to expand GI Bill education benefits, to provide retroactive payments to 185,000 service members on stop-loss, and to raise soldier pay.

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