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For Immediate Release: April 25, 2007
Sutton Votes for a New Direction in Iraq
Sutton Calls upon President Bush to Sign the Iraq Accountability Act, In Order to Support Our Troops, Supports Our Veterans, and Hold Iraqis Accountab
Washington, D.C. - Today Rep. Betty Sutton voted with a majority in the
House of Representatives to approve the conference report on the U.S.
Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act. This
measure provides the change in course in Iraq that the American public
has been demanding - requiring accountability from both the Bush
Administration and the Iraqi government. The measure passed 218-208.
It is anticipated that the Senate will take up and pass this legislation on Thursday and then send it to the President's desk.
Sutton commented on the bill's passage stating, "Again, we vote for a
new direction in Iraq. We must put an end to the Administration's
failed stay-the-course policy in Iraq. This bill provides what the
American people are demanding and what our troops need-a responsible
policy that funds our troops, demands accountability from the
Administration and the Iraqi government, and supports our veterans.
"This measure supports our troops by providing $4 billion more for our
troops than the President requested. This includes additional funding
for military health care, military housing, Mine Resistant Ambush
Protected (MRAP) vehicles for our troops, and a Strategic Reserve
Readiness Fund. The measure also honors our veterans, providing $1.8
billion not requested by the President to begin meeting the unmet
health care needs of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
"In addition to funding our troops, it demands accountability from the
Administration and Iraqi government that the Republican-led Congress
failed to provide. It requires the Iraqi government to take control of
Iraq by meeting key security, political and economic benchmarks
endorsed by the President himself. The measure also establishes a
responsible timeline for the redeployment of U.S. combat troops from
Iraq with redeployment beginning in October 2007, at the latest, with a
goal of being completed by March 2008. This represents the approach
recommended by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, which also called for a
goal of redeployment being completed by March 2008.
"I am calling upon the President to reconsider his veto threat and
support this new direction in Iraq. The President should sign this
bill, in order to get these needed resources to our troops and our
veterans, finally hold the Iraqi government accountable, and truly
transition the mission of our troops from combat to training, and begin
to rebuild our overstretched military.
"In November, the American people voted for a new direction in Iraq,"
Rep. Sutton concluded. "This Congress is committed to delivering it."
Contact: Ian Mandel at 202-225-3401
Jan. 9 - Ryan & Sutton become advocates for Mt. McKinley (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
Jan. 9 - 'OUR VIEW' EDITORIAL: Local congressional raises put to good use (Lorain Morning Journal)
Dec. 9 - Most Ohio lawmakers behind wheels of domestic cars (Columbus Dispatch)
Dec. 11 - Automaker bailout survives House vote (Akron Beacon Journal)
Dec. 10 - Sutton moves to Energy and Commerce Committee (Cleveland Plain Dealer)