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Washington D.C.- The Republican Study Committee (RSC), led by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) and RSC Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), today introduced the Iraq Victory Resolution with 56 original co-sponsors, including Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH), Deputy Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam (R-FL), Middle East Subcommittee Ranking Member Mike Pence (R-IN), and distinguished veteran and war hero Sam Johnson (R-TX). The resolution sends a clear message to American servicemen and women in Iraq that Congress supports them, believes progress is being made, and will continue to work to help ensure victory in Iraq.
Lead sponsor of the resolution, Rep. Joe Wilson, offered the following comment:
“We offered this resolution to let the brave men and women in uniform know that we in Congress are astutely aware of the progress being made in Iraq and that it is they who are mostly responsible for that progress. Terrorist attacks are down, terrorist operations have been eviscerated in key Iraqi cities, social services have improved, and life for many Iraqis is beginning to stabilize. It hurts morale when such progress goes unreported and thus virtually unnoticed back in America, and we believe it is important to let our troops know that we stand with them.”
RSC Chairman Jeb Hensarling added this comment:
“Though we can never adequately express our gratitude for the sacrifices that the men and women of our armed forces and their families continue to make in Iraq, this resolution is one way to show our united support for them. Although some continue to deny American military success in Iraq, we will counter their nay-saying with a strong, positive message of hope for our troops and their families. I’m extremely disappointed that not one Democrat has agreed to co-sponsor this resolution, despite each of their offices being approached twice. Their silence is deafening. I hope they will reconsider and sign onto this resolution shortly—if for no other reason than to allow soldiers in theater in Iraq, in beds at VA hospitals, or in training on bases across the country to know that Congress hasn’t lost faith in their mission in Iraq or in their ability to deliver tangible military and social improvements on the ground there.”
The text of the Iraq Victory Resolution, in its entirety, is as follows:
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That Congress—
(1) supports the idea that the war in Iraq is not lost;
(2) recognizes that the overall progress being made on the ground in Iraq is undeniable;
(3) recognizes that much of this progress is due to the skill, persistence, and valor of the American servicemember;
(4) recognizes that the decision by the President and our military leadership to provide a surge of troops to implement a new counterinsurgency strategy was the correct course of action and has been successful; and
(5) hopes for, and will do all it can to help ensure, coalition victory there as soon as possible.
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