Posted by: Hank Johnson (March 23, 2007, 03:54 PM)
I am passionately opposed to the war in Iraq. I am committed to bringing our brave troops home and sickened by the prospect of prolonging this tragic and unnecessary conflict.
And today I have made a very difficult decision – by far the most difficult I have ever made in public service.
In our efforts to end this war, we in Congress are faced with imperfect options. The U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health, and Iraq Accountability Act upon which we voted today is a strong bill and will do much to hasten our withdrawal from Iraq. But it is a flawed bill, an imperfect bill. I had hoped for a more aggressive measure and, in past weeks, considered voting against it.
I was an original supporter of the amendment offered by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, which called for a fully-funded, immediate withdrawal from Iraq. Regrettably, that amendment was rejected before it could even be considered on the floor. It is clear that more aggressive measures to curtail the president’s power would be destined for the same fate in this body.
The harsh reality is that we must deal in the world of the possible, not the ideal. I wish we could do more and do it quickly. But this bill, for all its faults, is the best we can hope to pass at this time. As such, and not without misgivings, I have decided that passing this law is the best first step we can take toward ending the war in Iraq.
Defeat of this bill, even on principled grounds, may ultimately prolong this war. That is something I cannot and will not stand for.
I carefully considered voting against this bill and holding out for something more aggressive and restrictive. But, having watched this debate unfold, I am convinced that such a proposal would not pass. If our true aim is bringing this war to a close as quickly as possible, we must support the most aggressive legislation that is passable, not simply the most aggressive legislation.
If we hold out for the ideal and fail to pass this bill today, we may congratulate ourselves tomorrow for standing up for our principles. But the hard truth is that our principled inaction risks sentencing our brave men and women in uniform to more tours of duty, more street patrols, more IED attacks – all because we failed to distinguish between what we want to do and what we are able to do.
This bill will require withdrawal of U.S. armed forces from Iraq if its conditions are not met. It will hold the Iraqi government officials accountable for their action and inaction. It will greatly increase funding for the care of our veterans, who have been neglected upon their return from heroic and frequently traumatic service abroad. It will appropriate deeply needed funds to restore our proud military to a state of strength and readiness.
This is an imperfect bill. But, for all its flaws, it is the right first step -- the right step today.
I will solemnly lend it my support.
Posted in Defense, Foreign Affairs, Iraq |
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Posted by: Hank Johnson (March 23, 2007, 01:14 PM)
Please join me on Saturday, March 31, at two town hall meetings where we will have the opportunity to candidly discuss the issues facing our district and our country.
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS
Posted in The District |
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Posted by: Hank Johnson (March 15, 2007, 01:04 PM)
This has been a troubling week.
We have all watched with concern the slow drip of revelations regarding the fishy dismissal of U.S. Attorneys in seven states.
Like many of you, I suspect that dirty politics clouded the judgment of senior White House and Department of Justice officials in this affair. It appears that the Attorneys were fired for refusing to indict Democratic candidates during last year's election.
The most revealing quote uncovered this week, as reported in Tuesday's Washington Post (LINK):
"[I]f we don't ever exercise it then what's the point of having it?"
--that from former Alberto Gonzales Chief of Staff Kyle Sampson.
He was referring to the presidential power, newly granted by The PATRIOT Act, to appoint interim U.S. Attorneys following the removal of incumbents. Previously, interim U.S. Attorneys were appointed by the judiciary in order to deter exactly this sort of scandalous political maneuver.
Sampson's quote illustrates just how destructive the massive expansion of presidential power over the last half-decade has been. The president and his handlers have proven that they are prone to abuse all of the excessive prerogatives they have squeezed out of Republican Congresses since 2001.
It's time for this new Congress to aggressively oversee and investigate potential abuses of presidential power.
As such, I am eager to get to the bottom of the U.S. Attorneys affair. Today I introduced a resolution drawing attention to the scandal and commending the fired Attorneys for their poise in the face of improper political pressure and their ultimate dismissals.
Stay tuned to this blog for further updates.
Posted in Bush Administration, My Legislation, U.S. Attorneys Scandal |
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Posted by: Hank Johnson (March 13, 2007, 02:34 PM)
Today I introduced legislation to save PeachCare, Georgia's State Children's Health Insurance (S-CHIP) program.
The current S-CHIP funding formula allows some states to accumulate surpluses of unused funds while other states, like Georgia, face severe shortfalls and are unable to provide for the basic health of children.
This is a clearly misguided way of distributing imperative, life-saving resources.
My legislation will redistribute S-CHIP funds from states that are running surpluses to cover the estimated $745 million shortfall among the 14 states which are in crisis. Currently, any excess S-CHIP funds must be returned to the federal treasury.
If my plan is adopted by Congress, Georgia will receive the estimated $131 million it needs to avert the children's healthcare crisis.
Please call your elected officials ask them to support this necessary legislation.
Posted in Health, PeachCare |
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Posted by: Hank Johnson (March 11, 2007, 11:23 PM)
IMPORTANT: March 16 Deadline for Registration!
On March 23, I and the rest of Georgia's Congressional Delegation will host our Spring Academy day at Naval Air Station Atlanta.
Representatives, midshipmen, and cadets from Navy, Army, Air Force, Merchant Marines, and Coast Guard academies will be there to answer your questions about the nomination/application process and life at a U.S. military academy.
Those interested in attending should register by March 16. To do so, please contact Katie Dailey in my district office at (770) 939-2016 or at Katie.Dailey@mail.house.gov.
Directions to Naval Air Station Atlanta:
From Atlanta:
North on I-75 to Windy Hill Road Exit; turn left on Windy Hill Road (heading Northwest), turn right on Atlanta Road, (railroad overpass at Windy Hill Road and Atlanta Road). Turn right at railroad overpass on Atlanta Road (Approximately 1.5 miles). Turn left at light onto Dixie Avenue and follow Dixie Avenue to NAS Atlanta Gate.
From I-285:
Take Atlanta Road Exit; turn west and follow several miles. Turn right at the second railroad overpass (NOT THE ATLANTA ROAD AND WINDY HILL ROAD OVERPASS). The railroad overpass is approximately 1.5 miles from Windy Hill Road. Turn left at light onto Dixie Avenue and continue to the NAS Atlanta Gate.
Updates will be posted to my web site at HankJohnson.House.Gov.
Posted in Defense, The District |
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Posted by: Hank Johnson (March 08, 2007, 05:49 PM)
This Saturday (3/10), please join me and my staff for an Open House at our new District Office South in Lithonia.
- WHAT: District Office South Open House
- WHERE: District Office South (5700 Hillandale Dr. Suite 110 Lithonia, GA 30058)
- WHEN: Noon until 3PM
- WHO: You, Me, and my staff
GET DIRECTIONS
Posted in The District |
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Posted by: Hank Johnson (March 06, 2007, 11:24 PM)
Starting today, I will speak every day on the floor of the United States House of Representatives to bring needed attention to the impending PeachCare crisis.
On Sunday, March 11th, Georgia's PeachCare program will stop accepting new participants due to a lack of funding.
Not enough is being done on the state or federal level to address this issue. We face the possibility of seeing hundreds of thousands of kids without health insurance in Georgia and throughout the nation if we do not fix this problem. I stand before you to urge your immediate support. I'll use every tool at my disposal to help bring about a resolution.
Posted in Health, PeachCare |
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