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The House is currently debating HR 2956, the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act. The legislation, sponsored by Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton, would begin the responsible redeployment of U.S. troops within 120 days and complete redeployment by April 1, 2008. The President would have to report to Congress why troops should remain in Iraq for limited purposes such as to fight terrorism or to train Iraqi forces.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (TX-25) spoke during the debate on the rule.

The report describes a policy badly in need of a New Direction. The report is not a snapshot of what is happening in Iraq today, but a sad reality of what has been occurring in that country for the past few years.

Since the President announced his surge six months ago, we've lost nearly 600 American troops and spent more than $60 billion. But by the Bush Administration's own admission, there is unsatisfactory progress on the key benchmarks endorsed by the President in January and political reconciliation is non-existent.

In May, Representative Louise Slaughter (NY-28), Chairwoman of the Rules Committee, requested a report on the contracting for armored vehicles and up-armoring equipment headed to Iraq. The Pentagon Inspector General has just released the report, entitled "Procurement Policy for Armored Vehicles."

Read the report (pdf) >>

Armored Vehicles Chronically Late

Renae Merle - Washington Post, July 12, 2007

As noted yesterday, after agreeing to appear before the Judiciary Committee, former White House Counsel Harriet Miers' attorney informed the Committee that under direction from the White House she would not honor the subpoena requiring her appearance. Chairman Conyers and Subcommittee Chairwoman Linda Sánchez responded to Miers' attorney:

A refusal to appear before the Subcommittee tomorrow could subject Ms. Miers to contempt proceedings, including but not limited to proceedings under 2 U.S.C. § 194 and under the inherent contempt authority of the House of Representatives.

The hearing has just begun, and Miers has not appeared. It can be viewed on C Span 3 or via Committee webcast.

Subcommittee Chairwoman Linda Sánchez gives opening remarks:

This week, the Bush Administration began to lower expectations for the Iraqi progress report on 18 political, economic, and military benchmarks required by Congress by July 15th. The report is expected to be released today. While our troops have performed heroically in Iraq, the Administration is conceding violence remains high, the Iraqi government has failed to meet any of the benchmarks endorsed by the President in January, and political reconciliation is non-existent.

Yesterday, the National Security Network released a report entitled "Measuring the Benchmarks: An Interim report". They report:

With the death of Lady Bird Johnson, Texas has lost one of its favorite daughters, and our nation has lost one of its finest first ladies.

Lady Bird Johnson was one of our nation's greatest, and first, environmentalists -- decades ahead of her time. She understood that beautifying the nation was about more than simple aesthetics, but also quality of life -- in both urban and rural areas, and for both the rich and the poor.

Her support for civil rights helped to ensure that the 1960s were a time of great progress toward the ideal of equality on which our country was founded. Her impact in the fight against poverty and in support of early childhood education in America, through her support for initiatives such as Head Start, endures today.

The House has passed the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007, H.R. 2669, by a vote of 273-149. The bill will provide the single largest increase in college aid since the GI bill in 1944. The legislation invests about $18 billion dollars over the next five years in reducing college costs, helping millions of students and families. It comes at no new cost to taxpayers, and is funded by cutting excess subsidies paid by the federal government to lenders in the student loan industry.