WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep Michael Honda issued the following statement: "Today the House will be voting on two bills to end the war in Iraq. I strongly believe that Congress must act decisively in light of the President’s failed strategy in Iraq. In my discussions with the people of the 15th District of California, their message has been clear. The President has made mistake after mistake in Iraq, and his most recent war escalation policies are not working. Congress must no longer provide blank checks for President Bush – we must end this war.

One of those bills, the Iraq Redeployment Act, follows the course that I believe we need, compelling the drawdown of U.S. troops to begin within 90 days of the bill being signed into law. The bill would provide a new strategy for ensuring a safe and stable Iraq, allowing:

• continued funding of training for Iraq Security Forces
• support for multinational forces engaged in security and stabilization efforts
• funding for diplomatic, social and economic reconstruction activities in Iraq

The President’s go-it-alone strategy is an utter failure, leading to increased animosity toward America throughout the world and putting our country more at risk than ever. Safety from international threats can only be achieved by building a coalition, which this bill supports. I have also cosponsored comprehensive legislation to address our international security threats, such as SMART Security Platform, and will be voting/voted for the Iraq Redeployment Act.

Since it does not appear that a majority of the House and Senate will vote in support of the Iraq Redeployment Act, the Appropriations Committee (of which I am a member), has crafted a compromise that will both support our troops while continuing to pressure the President to change course in Iraq. I will be voting in support of the bill, known as the Supplemental Appropriation, which will do the following:

• Fully funds our troops over the next two to three months (but fences off additional funding until Congress passes future legislation).
• Requires the President to submit a report to Congress by July 13, 2007, regarding the success of the Iraqi government in meeting security and political benchmarks
• Establishes a fast track procedure to ensure that Congress will vote on whether to release the remaining funds before the end of July
• Includes more for military health care and IED defenses than the President requested. In light of the inadequate medical treatment our returning troops have been receiving, it also includes an addition $1.8 billion to meet veteran’s unmet health care needs.

Too many veterans have already returned back to our District with debilitating injuries or worse, and the President must stop ignoring the will of the American people and Congress and wind down this war. President Bush has shown a woeful disregard for compromise when he vetoed the last supplemental Congress passed, and I sincerely hope that he will heed the call of our country and sign this legislation once it has been passed by Congress."