Schakowsky Votes to Redeploy Troops from Iraq

For Immediate Release:
November 14, 2007

SCHAKOWSKY VOTES TO REDEPLOY
TROOPS FROM IRAQ

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a Chief Deputy Whip and a founding member of the Out-of-Iraq Caucus, today joined a majority in the House of Representatives and backed legislation that will redeploy our troops and offer a new direction for Iraq. The Orderly and Responsible Iraq Redeployment Appropriations Act, H.R. 4156, was approved by a vote of 218-203.

Congresswoman Schakowsky delivered the following remarks on the House floor minutes before the bill passed the House.

"The war in Iraq is a disaster and it is time to bring our brave troops — the men and women who volunteered to serve their country for the right reasons, but were sent to Iraq for the wrong reasons — it is time for them to come home.

For that reason I support this bill which for the first time ties funding to the responsible redeployment of our troops out of Iraq, beginning within 30 days of passage and completed by December 2008.

I am supporting this bill for another important reason. It establishes once and for all that the United States of America does not torture people. This bill is not confused about water boarding. Water boarding is clearly made illegal as well as electric shocks and mock executions and every other gruesome interrogation method that is currently prohibited in the army field manual.

The American people also elected the Democratic majority in this House last November because they are done with the war. They're sick and tired of losing American lives in Iraq, and they're sick and tired of losing vital programs at home to continue to finance this tragic war.

This is a vote of conscience. I urge every one of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote for this bill....

The legislation approved by the House calls for the redeployment of American troops from Iraq and a change in mission for U.S. forces on the ground. Specifically, the bill:

• Requires the redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq to begin within 30 days of the bill being signed into law, with a target for completion of December 15, 2008
• Requires a transition in the mission of US forces in Iraq from primarily combat to: force and diplomatic protection, limited support for Iraqi security forces and targeted counterterrorism operations
• Prohibits deployment of any troops not fully equipped and trained, but allows the President to waive this prohibition only if the national security of the United States is in danger
• Prohibits all US government agencies from engaging in torture