Press Release

Amendment 1 of the bill includes an increase in the minimum wage and funding for such items as military health care, veterans' health care, homeland security, children's health care, agricultural disaster aid, and Gulf Coast recovery. Amendment 2 includes a portion of the funding requested by President Bush for the Iraq war, as well as the Warner accountability and reporting requirements but no timeline for redeployment. Both were adopted by the House today.

Congressman Cumming said, "Despite my opposition to the war in Iraq, I remain a strong supporter of our troops and voted in favor of the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act of 2007 (H.R. 1591) when it came before the House in March. It was a difficult decision, but I had to vote my conscience. For the first time we were requiring accountability standards by establishing benchmarks and a timeframe for redeployment.

"Unfortunately, President Bush vetoed this bill and the House did not garner support to override the veto."

"On May 10, Congress considered and passed version two of the Iraq Supplemental (H.R. 2206). This bill would have provided $42.8 billion for the Iraq War. For the most part, funding would have supported the immediate needs of the U.S. military through July.

"Further, under this bill, Congress would have decided whether to release an additional $52.8 billion of war spending that would last until September.

"This measure would have placed needed limitations on access to funding based upon the progress reports provided to Congress by the President. This would bring Mr. Bush and his Administration back to reality by no longer continuing to risk the lives of thousands of U.S. troops in Iraq without oversight and accountability. However, in an effort to avoid another veto by President Bush, H.R. 2206 has been butchered into a bill hallow of needed provisions that would safeguard this country from engaging in seemingly endless military operations in Iraq. Therefore, I voted in favor of Amendment 1 to H.R. 2206, and voted against Amendment 2.

"One of my primary concerns has been to ensure that the troops receive the equipment, rest and training they require and deserve. I voted in support of Amendment 1 to H.R. 2206 because it provides support for Defense and the Global War on Terror totaling over $14.489 billion in funding. This includes $617 million in state and foreign operations, $3.137 billion for BRAC, $1.789 billion in Veterans Medical Care (including funding for Walter Reed Medical Center), and $1.050 billion for Homeland Security.

Moreover, Amendment 1 supports our troops by appropriating nearly $1 billion for our military personnel including marked increases in funding for our reserve personnel.

"Amendment 1 resolves many of the shortcomings of our military medical healthcare facilities including the inability of defense health programs to treat and care for our injured service men and women returning from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. It also provides needed oversight of military medical treatment facilities and housing, by requiring that a series of inspections be conducted by the Secretary of Defense, which would ensure that our service members never again return to substandard military facilities.

"Amendment 1 also provides needed funding for domestic programs, including $393 million in funding to the State Children's Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP), a vital program to the nation and to the State of Maryland. I should also note that Amendment 1 provides needed Gulf Coast recovery support for those still suffering from the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.

"What is most problematic about H.R. 2206 Amendment 2 is that although the bill does threaten to withhold U.S. aid dollars for Iraq if progress on political and security reforms are not made, this threat is fruitless considering that the President can just as easily and quickly waive the restriction with little forethought.

"President Bush can no longer expect a blank check without any accountability given the current circumstances in Iraq. Over 3,400 soldiers have died and the number increases each day. We have been working diligently to negotiate with the President, but he has constantly failed to meet us halfway, despite the clear need for a new direction and policy in Iraq. His mandate to have a bill absent of time lines for redeployment and key benchmarks measuring our progress is unreasonable and irresponsible. This is exactly why I firmly disapprove of Amendment 2.

"In reality, this legislation simply shortchanges the American people of what they deserve, a new strategy in Iraq with firm deadlines on troop redeployment and needed accountability and oversight of our military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Congress has the responsibility to ensure our policy in Iraq is working, especially as our service members continue to sacrifice their lives at a rapid pace.