WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would begin to redeploy U.S. troops from Iraq within 120 days and to complete redeployment by April 1st of 2008.  Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) voted for the legislation.  The following statement may be attributed to Stupak:

“The Iraqi government has failed to satisfactorily meet any of the benchmarks that the President outlined in January, and basic issues such as how Iraqis will divide oil revenues or share power remain unresolved.  Meanwhile, our nation’s greatest resource, our young men and women, are caught in the middle of Iraq’s civil war. 

“The Iraqi’s civil war can only be resolved through political reconciliation, not through U.S. military intervention.  Now in the fifth year of the war, having spent $450 billion, lost 3,600 American lives and seen 26,000 Americans wounded, the President is calling for more of the same.  Members of Congress faced a simple choice today of either voting to continue the President’s failed policy in Iraq or voting for a new direction.  I once again voted for a new direction in Iraq that will bring our troops home!”