February 13 - After a late January vote of the City Council of Berkeley, Calif., to advise the Marine Corps recruiting station that Marine recruiters are “not welcome in this city,” Congressman Zach Wamp signed on to the Semper Fi Act of 2008. The bill, which was supported by 71 other Members of Congress, would rescind more than $2 million in federal funding for Berkeley and transfer the funds to the Marine Corps. Mounting pressure from this resolution along with widespread criticism from around the country convinced the City Council to reconsider the earlier vote. Around 1:00 a.m. last night, the Council voted to clarify the Marines motion with new language recognizing the Marine Corps’ right to be located in the city.

“I stand with our Marines and all members of our armed services who protect Americans and fight for our freedoms. The City of Berkeley has a right to be opposed to the war, but not to try and run the very Marines out of town that would fight to protect them. The Council’s early actions showed a tremendous lack of respect for those who make great sacrifices to serve our country bravely,” said Congressman Wamp. “While it is a good sign that the Council revised its language, it would have been even better had an apology been issued to the Marine Corps.”