House Approves Measure to Prohibit Permanent Bases in Iraq

HOUSE APPROVES MEASURE TO PROHIBIT PERMANENT BASES IN IRAQ

Washington, D.C.–U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) applauded the passage of H.R. 2929, which would limit the use of funds to establish any permanent military bases in Iraq. The bipartisan measure, which Congresswoman Schakowsky cosponsored, passed the House overwhelmingly by a vote of 399 to 24.

Congresswoman Schakowsky delivered the following remarks on the House floor today in support of H.R. 2929.

"Mr. Speaker, I rise to strongly support H.R. 2929, a bill to prohibit permanent bases in Iraq, and I thank Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Tom Allen for their persistent leadership on this important issue.

The House passed the responsible redeployment from Iraq this month to get our troops out of Iraq by April. The question now is not whether we will redeploy our troops, but when and how.

This resolution makes it emphatically clear to the Iraqi people and to President Bush that we do not intend to keep troops in Iraq indefinitely.

The United States must not be seen as an occupier. Otherwise our presence there will be used to recruit insurgents; to keep Iraq entrenched in violence, and to create an even more dangerous environment for our troops.

This House, it's true, has already expressed its opposition to permanent bases, but today we do it clearly with bipartisan support and send a very clear statement, and I urge all of my colleagues to listen to the will of the American people, of the Iraqi people, and support H.R. 2929....