WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) issued the following statement
in opposition to the Bush Administration’s request for another $87 billion
for Iraq.
“I
am proud to join my colleagues, patriots all, to say no to another blank
check for President Bush so he can continue his failed policy in Iraq.
I am joining the growing number of Democrats and the majority of Americans
who say that without accountability, without a plan, and without a guarantee
that the troops will finally get what they need, we will not hand over
$87 billion to the Bush Administration.
“The
Bush Administration cannot be trusted to make our troops a priority, so
how can we trust them with $87 billion? 40,000 U.S. soldiers
in Iraq are without flack jackets and others are traveling in non-armored
Humvees and without jammers that block the signals between bombs and detonators.
But billions of taxpayer dollars have been spent already on no bid contracts
for major U.S. corporations like Halliburton and Bechtel for reconstruction
efforts that Iraqis say can be performed for pennies on the dollar if given
to local contractors.
“The
Bush Administration betrayed the families of soldiers in Iraq, so how can
we trust them with $87 billion? I, personally, have talked to mothers
and relatives who are sending their soldiers huge packages every week that
include items like sunscreen and insect repellant, shampoo, and sanitary
napkins because the administration did not make plans to provide these
items.
“The
most galling part of this debate is that the Bush Administration and Republican
leaders are blackmailing Members of Congress to vote for this blank check
with the threat of being accused of not supporting our troops. Yet it is
the Republicans who are guilty of tragically disregarding our brave soldiers,
troop safety and comfort and betraying our veterans.
“The
money already is available to take care of our troops, but the Republicans
haven’t delivered for our soldiers. Newly released data from the
non-partisan Congressional Research Service found that the U.S. Army has
enough funds for military personnel through June 2004 and for operations
and maintenance through April 2004. This is proof that the Bush Administration
has enough money to support our troops without yet another emergency funding
bill from Congress and that it was poor planning, not a lack of funds,
by the Bush Administration that put our troops in this position.
“I,
for one, will not be an enabler to an administration that clearly cannot
be trusted with our treasure, our lives, and those of the Iraqi people.
We demand that our troops are taken care of, that force protection takes
precedence over private contractors as our first priority, and that the
Administration offers a plan to engage the international community in rebuilding
Iraq. We demand accountability from President Bush.” |