Despite the people's mandate to end the war after the last congressional election, congress continues to fund it. Many congress people who have voted against and spoken out against the war have continued to vote for enormous spending packages that ultimately allow the war to continue.

Many are calling to oppose the war and resist the "surge" of new troops. Many include a call to bring troops home. An important piece to ending the war must include opposition to the constant spending for the war.

EPW needs your support to stop upcoming spending bills for the war and the continual support of these spending packages by some OR congress people.

Iraq War Funding Supplemental - $165.4 Billion -PASSED

• DeFazio and Wyden tried to include County Timber Payments in versions of this bill. Bill contents, having been dissected into amendments, allowed Reps. to vote for domestic spending including GI Benefits while voting against the money for the wars.

• With this bill, congress has approved over $860 billion in DOD, State/USAID, and Veterans Administration funding for Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001." Travis Sharp, Iraq Insider, 6/17/08

FY2009 Defense Authorization Bill - Contains $70 Billion for Iraq War

    *DeFazio voted for this bill May 22.    Smith and Wyden could be voting on this bill this week

• "This $601.4 billion total includes $70 billion for ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and $531.4 billion for National Defense (function 050). Of the $531.4 billion slated for National Defense, $515.2 billion is for the Department of Defense (DOD) and $16.2 billion is for the Department of Energy's nuclear weapons activities."     - The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, Analysis for H.R. 5658

* This vote directly contradicts DeFazio's promise when he signed a letter to the President saying he "will only support appropriating additional funds for U.S. military operations in Iraq during Fiscal Year 2008 and beyond for the protection and safe redeployment of all our troops out of Iraq".

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Thursday, May 15, 2008

Winter Soldier on the Hill

Boots-on-the-ground veterans are testifying before Congress on Thursday about the effects of the Iraq occupation. This testimony, presented by veterans who have witnessed firsthand the devastation of Iraq and its people, comes on the same day that Congress is expected to debate a bill extending funding for the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan through 2009.

On Thursday, May 15, members of Iraq Veterans Against the War will testify before members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

"Before members of Congress vote to provide more funding they need to hear about the true costs of the occupation of Iraq from those who have experienced it first-hand. Congress has heard from the Generals and the politicians -- now it's time they heard from the troops," said Kelly Dougherty, Executive Director of IVAW and former Military Police Sergeant.

Winter Soldier on the Hill is taking place two months after Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan, a four-day summit where hundreds of members of IVAW gathered to present testimony about their military experiences to the public. It is being held Thursday, May 15, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 2261 Rayburn House Office Building.

Further information including a list of those testifying is at http://ivaw.org. The proceedings are expected to be carried live by C-Span3: http://inside.c-spanarchives.org:8080/cspan/schedule.csp.

Info. above provided by Institute for Public Accuracy.