WASHINGTON D.C. - Senator John Kerry today said that the Senate will vote again this week on whether to set a deadline for redeploying US troops from Iraq - a measure that Kerry originally introduced a year ago to help bring an end to the war. Kerry said the withdrawal plan will be voted on as an amendment to the Defense spending bill, which provides funds for the military's budget.

When the Senate voted on the deadline legislation in June 2006, the measure received just 13 votes. Since then, support for a deadline has grown. Kerry said he expects several Republicans to join with Democrats to insist that the White House finally agree to begin a phased withdrawal of most US troops out of Iraq.

"No more talk, no more excuses, it's time to vote and choose between the Bush escalation and a change of course. This is a test of whether Bush critics will still tow the line or whether they'll join us to establish a firm deadline to redeploy our troops out of Iraq and force Iraqis to finally stand up for Iraq," Kerry said. "It's stunning to me that this war costs American taxpayers $10 billion a month, and that even after the ill-advised escalation we still have little to show for the brave sacrifices our men and women have made in Iraq. This policy isn't working. We need to change course, we need to end this war."

Kerry also announced today that he would co-sponsor a measure written by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) that would use the power of the purse to change the U.S. military mission in Iraq by April 2008.

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