“This vote puts in place criteria to demand accountability of the Iraqi government and it provides all of the resources requested by the President to best support our men and women in uniform,” Ross said. “My vote was the responsible thing to do for our troops as it provides them with $99.5 billion to continue their mission in Iraq. Our troops have done everything we have asked them to do, and they have performed honorably.  It is past time to hold the Iraqis accountable and demand that they take responsibility for their own security forces.

“I strongly believe that as long as we have troops in harms way, we as a nation must support them.  I have given, and I will continue to give, my full support to all U.S. troops currently serving in the Middle East. This bill also ensures that our government keeps its promises to our military veterans by providing $1.7 billion for veteran’s health care programs, to make sure our veterans are provided the care they deserve and need when they return home.

“We are in the midst of a civil war in Iraq, and President Bush has yet to offer our nation a viable, new direction in this war.  Instead, the President wants to send an additional 21,000 troops to a region where we already have nearly a quarter of a million troops, further straining our military, National Guard and Reserves. I refuse to support more of the same and it is past time for a new direction in Iraq. The “U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act of 2007” funds our troops while also demanding accountability from the Iraqi government. I consider this one of the most important votes I will cast this year and perhaps during my time in Congress.  In my heart I know this was the right vote for my country.”

The “U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health, and Iraq Accountability Act of 2007,” does not cut off funds for military operations if any of its troop redeployment/withdrawal mandates are not met.  It establishes a series of benchmarks— proposed in January by President Bush in his State of the Union Address — that Iraqi leaders would have to meet for U.S. troops to remain in Iraq, including the following:

By July 1, 2007: The President must certify that Iraq is making meaningful and substantial progress in meeting political and military benchmarks.  If certification is not given then U.S. forces must be out by December 2007.

By October 1, 2007:  President must certify that Iraqis have achieved certain political and military benchmarks.  If certification is not given, U.S. forces must begin an immediate redeployment to be completed by the end of March 2008 (as recommended by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group).

By September 1, 2008:  All U.S. forces must be out of Iraq even if President has made the two preceding certifications.  Redeployment will begin March 1, 2008. 

After August 2008, U.S. forces can remain in Iraq if their mission is limited to protecting U.S. diplomatic facilities, U.S. citizens, or other U.S. troops; if they are engaged in targeted operations limited to killing or capturing members of al Qaeda or other global terrorist organizations; or if they are engaged in training Iraqi security forces.

In addition, the bill includes benchmarks regarding troop readiness which mirror current official Defense Department policy.  The bill allows the President to waive such benchmarks if he certifies to Congress in writing that such a waiver would be in the national security interest of the United States.  The troop readiness benchmarks include: 

1)  Unit Readiness —Requires the Defense Department to direct the chief of the military department concerned to determine that a unit is "fully mission capable" before it is deployed to Iraq.

2) Length of Deployment — Requires the Defense Department to abide by its current policy and avoid extending the deployment of units in Iraq in excess of 365 days for the Army and 210 days for the Marines.

3) Time Between Deployments — Requires the Defense Department to avoid sending units back into Iraq before troops get the required "time out of the combat zone" and training time (365 days for the Army and 210 days for the Marines).

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