Congress to consider spending bills calling for 2008 U.S. combat withdraw from Iraq

by Conor Kenny — March 22, 2007 - 5:30pm
  • Topics: Iraq, U.S. Congress, Politics, U.S. Government
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    With the Iraq War now in its fifth year, both the House and Senate are (for the first time) poised to consider supplemental appropriations bills which would call on President Bush to remove U.S. combat troops from the country by 2008. In the House, a vote is expected soon on a $124 billion spending bill which includes a binding provision demanding withdraw by September 2008. Additionally, the bill would:

    • Provide $95.5 billion to continue funding the Iraq and Afghanistan wars through September 30, 2007.
    • Require that U.S. combat troops be withdrawn from Iraq sooner than September 2008 if the Iraqi government cannot meet its own benchmarks for securing the country.
    • Call for U.S. troops to receive certain standards of training, equipment and rest (although President Bush would be permitted to waive these provisions).
    • Specify that none of the appropriated funds may be used to close Walter Reed Army Medical Center (where poor conditions for wounded soldiers have been heavy scrutinized).

    The bill is loaded with billions of dollars in earmarks, seemingly included to help attract undecided members. These include:

    • $25 million for spinach growers hurt by the 2006 E. coli outbreak
    • $75 million for peanut storage in Georgia
    • $2.9 billion for Gulf Coast hurricane recovery, including $1.3 billion for New Orleans levee repairs
    • $500 million for wildfire suppression
    • $120 million for shrimp and Atlantic menhaden fishermen
    • $4 billion for farmers who have suffered weather-related losses

    The measure has attracted the support of most House Democrats, but not all. Several members of the Out of Iraq and Progressive congressional caucuses, chaired by California Democratic Reps. Maxine Waters and Barbara Lee, respectively, have announced their opposition to the bill, arguing it is not aggressive enough in calling for U.S. withdraw. These members instead favor an amendment offered by Lee which would force (and fully fund) the removal of all U.S. troops by the end of 2007.

    In the Senate, Democrats recently unveiled a plan which would provide $97 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as require President Bush to begin withdrawing some U.S. troops from Iraq in four months. Unlike the House bill, however, it contains only a recommendation (not a binding deadline) for complete withdraw (which would be set at March 31, 2008). The measure is expected to face an uphill battle, as sixty votes will be necessary to overcome a Republican-led filibuster, which has been effective on previous Iraq votes and is considered likely this time around.

    We at Congresspedia have been closely following legislation in the 110th Congress aimed at ending the Iraq War, as well as all congressional action on the conflict dating back to the initial authorization of military force in October 2002. We urge you to check these pages out, and improve them with your own edits!