WASHINGTON, D.C. May 15, 2008 – Today Congressman Ken Calvert (R-CA) voted Present on the key amendment to the Democratic Troop Supplemental Funding bill to protest the use of our troops in combat to pass unrelated domestic spending.

"The mission for Congress this week was clear: provide our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan with the funding they need to continue their operations," said Rep. Calvert. "Yet the Democratic Leadership chose to bypass the committee process, block Republican amendments and weigh down the Supplemental with unnecessary domestic spending that should be considered under the regular appropriations process."

Rep. Calvert is a co-sponsor of a clean troop funding bill, H.R. 6026, introduced by Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) which provides the $178 billion in funds requested for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Democrat bill fails to provide roughly $3.4 billion of the funds requested for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and instead includes an estimated $72 billion in unrelated domestic spending. The President’s Supplemental Funding request has been pending in the House for 14 months.

Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in an interview last week: "We need [the supplemental appropriations bill] very badly before the Memorial Day recess. We stop paying soldiers on the 15th of June and we have precious little flexibility with respect to that."

Unrelated funding in the Democrat Supplemental:

$11 billion total costs in extended unemployment compensation

$9 Billion in funding for the State Department, USAID, and other foreign assistance operations and programs overseas

$500 million in increased funding over the President's request for international food aid

$5.8 billion in funding for Louisiana levees

$200 million in funding for the Bureau of Prisons

$200 million in funding to fund shortfalls related to the Census

"While Members of Congress are getting ready to break for Memorial Day in a week – a day to remember those who have sacrificed their lives for our country – the Democratic Leadership has chosen to jeopardize the flow of funds to our fighting troops," stated Rep. Calvert. "I am hopeful the Senate will expedite a clean troop supplemental bill that all of us can support."

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