WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) today introduced an amendment calling for President Bush to present a plan to Congress to bring the troops home from Iraq. The Woolsey amendment was introduced to the FY06 Defense Authorization Bill, H.R. 1815.

 

“I honor and support the brave men and women who are serving our country in Iraq, and I believe that the best way to support them is to establish a plan to bring them home,” said Rep. Woolsey.

Earlier this year, Rep. Woolsey introduced legislation, H.Con.Res. 35, asking for the President to develop and implement a plan to begin the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. The Woolsey Resolution has 32 supporters in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The following are Rep. Woolsey’s words as written for the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives:

 

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Members of the Rules committee for making this important amendment in order. It is time for Congress to discuss the war in Iraq, and, how to end the terrible suffering it is causing our troops, their families, and the Iraqi people.

 

“First and foremost, I honor and support the brave men and women who are serving our country in Iraq, and I believe that the best way to support them is to establish a plan to bring them home.

 

“In just over two years of war, more than 1,600 American soldiers and an estimated 25,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed. The number of American wounded, according to the Pentagon, is greater than 12,000…and that doesn’t count the invisible mental wounds they are bringing home, afflicting tens of thousands of our soldiers.

 

“And, of course, with more than $200 billion on the line, don’t the American people deserve to know what the President plans for Iraq?

“I must honor the many Iraqi voters who risked their lives to give Iraq back to the Iraqi people.

 

“But our continued presence in Iraq after the election has caused America to be seen by the Iraqi people as an occupying power - not as a liberating force. Our continued presence in Iraq works against efforts for democracy; provides a rallying point for angry insurgents; and ultimately makes the United States less safe.

 

“My amendment expresses the sense of Congress that the President must develop a plan to bring our troops home, and that he must submit this plan to the appropriate committees in Congress.

 

“We can truly support our troops, by bringing them home. At the same time, withdrawing U.S. troops must not result in abandoning a country that has been devastated. We must assist Iraq, not through our military, but through international humanitarian efforts to rebuild their war-torn economic and physical infrastructure.

 

“We need to defend America by relying on the very best of American values - our commitment to peace and freedom; our compassion for the people of the world; and our capacity for multilateral leadership.

 

“Mr. Speaker, Congress must support our troops and begin the difficult recovery process from a long and destructive war, but first the President must create a plan to bring our troops home…they deserve nothing less.

 

“I reserve the balance of my time.”