Yarmuth Votes to Prevent More U.S. Troops in Iraq

Press Release

In a late-night vote on Thursday, Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3) voted in favor of a provision to prevent the administration from sending U.S. combat troops to Iraq.

The amendment to the FY2015 Department of Defense appropriations bill, introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee of California, specified that no funding in the bill could be used for combat operations in Iraq. It failed in a 250-165 vote.

"Nearly 4,500 Americans lost their lives fighting in Iraq, tens of thousands came home injured, countless lives have been permanently changed, and more than $2 trillion in taxpayer money has been spent," Yarmuth said. "Our nation has sacrificed enough, and it is time for the Iraqi people to make the tough choices and decide their future."

Yarmuth voted in favor of three other amendments to prevent further U.S. military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. The amendments prohibited funding for the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq and the 2001 AUMF in Afghanistan. The third blocked funding for combat operations in Afghanistan beyond Dec. 31, 2014.

Passage of the amendment ending the AUMF in Iraq would have required the President to seek Congressional approval before engaging in new military combat operations in the country.

Although they drew strong Democratic support, each amendment failed.

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