WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chief Deputy Whip Diana DeGette (D-CO) today reaffirmed her commitment to ending the war in Iraq by opposing a Senate change to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2007 that provides a blank check for the war in Iraq. The House agreed to the Senate change on a vote of 272 to 142.

“I remain committed to ending the war in Iraq, and will stand by my pledge to oppose any measure that provides funds to continue the war. It is unfortunate that President Bush would hold a bill funding the government hostage by threatening a veto if it lacked funds for his failed war in Iraq.”

“It is shameful that Senate Republicans would vote in lock-step with the President over this issue despite overwhelming public opinion against this war. I am proud to stand up against the President’s misguided war in Iraq. We need to end this war quickly and safety and bring our troops home.”

The Consolidated Appropriations Act passed in the House consisted of two amendments; the first funds domestic spending for 11 federal agencies, including $100 million in security funding for the Democratic and Republican National Conventions; the second provides $31 billion for operations in Afghanistan and prohibits these funds from being used for operations in Iraq. The first amendment remained unchanged during Senate consideration. The House had to vote on the Senate’s change to the second amendment providing funds for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Click here to read Congresswoman DeGette’s statement on securing security funding for both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions in Denver and St. Pau