Pelosi Statement on President Bush and Senate Republicans Blocking Iraq Funding

November 20, 2007

Washington, D.C. -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today on House Democrats' efforts to provide funding for our troops and redeploy them safely and responsibly. Below her statement is a fact sheet prepared by the House Appropriations Committee on funding for our troops:

'Congress approved and the President signed legislation providing nearly a half trillion dollars to fully fund the Defense Department for 2008. House Democrats have also provided an additional $50 billion for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The President and Senate Republicans are now blocking this funding because it ties funding to bringing our troops home from Iraq responsibly, safely, and soon.

'The House-passed bill will ensure that only fully mission capable troops may be deployed to Iraq, bars the use of torture, and sets a goal of December 2008 for redeployment of our combat forces.

'If this legislation is enacted into law, we can make the American people safer by rebuilding and restoring the readiness and the capacity of our military to protect the American people wherever our interests are threatened.

'Democrats and the American people support our troops in the field and will always insist they receive all the resources they require. If there is any delay in funding for our men and women in uniform, the responsibility will squarely lie with the President and Senate Republicans who are blocking the bill.'

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War Funding: Setting the Record Straight

There are a lot of accusations flying around town about who is supporting our troops. It's time to set the record straight.

Congress has provided unprecedented funding for our troops.

Last week the President signed a $459 billion Defense Bill - an increase of $39 billion over last year.

Attached to that bill was $11.6 billion in emergency funding for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles. That is in addition to the $5.2 billion Congress provided for MRAPs in September.

Altogether, the Department of Defense has sufficient enough funding to last through the beginning of next year.

Last week the House of Representatives passed a $50 billion supplemental to fund the war, but the President has threatened to veto it and his allies in the Senate are filibustering it.

This bill includes reasonable provisions to protect our troops.

It requires that troops be fully trained and fully equipped.

It requires all government employees to follow the Army Field Manual rules prohibiting torture.

It requires the President have a plan for bringing our troops home by December of 2008.

The Department of Defense could have full access to these funds very quickly. All the President has to do is call his allies in the Senate and ask them to release the bill.