WASHINGTON- The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the “U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health and Iraq Accountability Act,” H.R. 1591.  Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) released the following statement on the legislation:

“Today, the U.S. House of Representatives faced a choice: endorse President Bush’s open-ended, failed Iraq strategy or hold the Bush Administration accountable and set a responsible timeline for bringing our troops home.  I voted for the latter course. 

“This week, we entered the fifth year of the war in Iraq and, to date, more than 3,200 brave American servicemen and women have been killed including 124 from Michigan.  These brave men and women and their families have sacrificed too much for our nation to continue the Administration’s failed policy without any accountability in this civil war. 

“The legislation the House passed today will provide our troops with the equipment they need to do their jobs.  It will also honor our commitment to veterans, allocating $3.4 billion for military and veterans’ health care, including institutions like Walter Reed. Perhaps most importantly, the legislation will require Iraqis to find a solution to their own civil war. 

“For over a year, I have been calling for an accountability plan for Iraq with clear, enforceable benchmarks.  Not only will this legislation hold Iraqis accountable, but it will hold the Administration accountable for the same benchmarks the President outlined in January.  The days of giving President Bush a blank check on Iraq and shortchanging our veterans are over.”