Washington, DC - Washington, D.C. – Congressman Ed Towns (D-Brooklyn), along with members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), officially announced their opposition to President Bush's $87 billion supplemental request for Iraq.  The CBC said the President has failed to account for the resources already allocated to Iraq, and has failed to show how additional resources will be spent as well.

"Let me say up front as someone who served in our armed services, the troops have had and will continue to have my full support," said Towns.  "But I can not in good conscience give the President a blank check to spend as he wishes in Iraq.  The American people need to know how the money is going to be spent to rebuild the country and that it won't just go to companies that are friendly with the Administration."

The CBC voted last week to oppose the spending bill, and with the House vote expected Friday, the group held a press conference today to present its opposition.  Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland), Chair of the CBC, said if the caucus' concerns are not addressed prior to a vote, a majority of CBC members have unanimously voted to oppose the Administration's request.

Congress has already provided $63 billion for Iraqi earlier this year, and before providing another $87 billion, members of the CBC want to see a plan for winning the peace in Iraq.

"It is clear that whatever plan may have existed for dealing with post-war Iraq, that plan has failed," said Towns. "That failure is the result of miscalculations and faulty assumptions by the Administration.  First give us a real plan, and then come ask for more money."  

Towns, like many members of the CBC, voted against a preemptive strike against Iraq, and now members say that unfortunately, many of their concerns expressed year ago have come to bear.

"By acting with very little international support, now we must pick up the pieces all by ourselves and rebuild the country," said Towns.  "By going at it alone, we are paying for it with our soldiers' lives and the public's tax dollars.  This is going to make it harder to pay for a Medicare prescription drug program, education, and Social Security here at home." 

Of the President's request, $20.3 billion would go to reconstruction improvements in Iraq such as electricity, sewerage, and transportation.  Administration officials say these investments represent the most urgent needs and expect total reconstruction efforts to approach another $50 billion. 

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