Washington -- United States Representative Barbara Cubin (R-WY) today cast her vote against an emergency funding bill that mandates a retreat of U.S. troops in Iraq. 

“No American wants to lose the war in Iraq,” Representative Cubin said.  “Unfortunately, the bill the Democrats have pushed though the House today sets America on a course to lose the war.  By setting arbitrary time lines for troop withdrawals, we are virtually telegraphing our war plans to our enemies and establishing a path for failure.  I refuse to lead America down this path.  A vote against this bill was a vote in support of our troops and the mission they are risking their lives to accomplish.”

H.R. 1591, which provides $112 billion for the Global War on Terror, also provides over $13 billion in non-related spending items.  These non-emergency funding earmarks include $25 million for spinach growers, $5 million for tropical fish, $74 million for peanut storage costs, $120 million for shrimp and menhaden fishing industries, and $100 million for citrus producers.  It has been widely publicized that many of these projects were inserted into the bill to win the support of Democrats who may not have otherwise voted in favor of the bill.      

“By inserting non-emergency spending for specific Congressional districts into this bill, the tax-and-spend Democrats have played politics with the funding our troops need to be safely and adequately prepared,” Cubin said.  “Non-emergency funding has no business being coupled with an emergency war spending bill.  The vote to back the troops who are fighting for America’s freedom should be one of raw conscience, not one clouded by special interest projects.”

The bill sets arbitrary deadlines requiring troops to withdraw from Iraq. President Bush must certify in July, and then again in October, that the Iraqi government had met certain political and military benchmarks. The bill calls for withdrawing U.S. troops within 180 days if these benchmarks aren’t met.  The bill mandates that troops begin redeploying from Iraq in March of 2008.  President Bush has already indicated he will veto the legislation. 

“Our troops need to know they will have the support and provisions they need, and America backs their mission.  The commanders on the ground need to know America has faith they will lead their troops to victory.  And most of all, our enemies need to know that America will never bow to terror or oppression.  America will not retreat.” 

Clink the link below for an audio sample of Cubin’s comments. 
http://www.house.gov/cubin/press/IraqWar.wav