Media

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

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:

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.

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.

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.