Madam Speaker, today the House is addressing two of the most important issues facing our nation: the Iraq war and the poor state of our economy.  We have the opportunity to force a change in our Iraq strategy while providing much-needed assistance to returning troops and Americans struggling to make ends meet.

In October 2002, I voted against the resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq, and more than five years later, it is abundantly clear that our nation needs a new approach in Iraq so that we can bring our men and women in uniform home.  I am extremely proud of the service and sacrifice of our troops and their families, and the best way to demonstrate our support is by welcoming them home with the services and resources they need.  I strongly support the amendment before us today that requires U.S. forces to begin redeployment from Iraq within 30 days, with a goal of withdrawing nearly all troops by the end of 2009.  Recognizing the toll that extended deployments are having on our readiness, the amendment also requires the Department of Defense to adhere to its policy of providing sufficient rest and recuperation time for troops returning from combat.  Repeated and unpredictable deployments have placed enormous stress on our military and their families, and if we don’t make changes soon, we risk losing the men and women who have made our armed forces the best in the world. 

Another amendment before us would recognize the service of our troops by establishing a new GI Bill of Rights.  Under this plan, which is supported by a broad array of veterans groups, servicemembers returning from Iraq or Afghanistan would qualify for educational assistance based on the amount of time served.  Those serving three years on active duty would receive benefits to cover the costs of a four-year education, based on the costs of the most expensive in-state public school.  This new program will allow our military returning from combat to advance their careers and develop skills that will help improve our economy.

Finally, the measure recognizes the importance of providing assistance to our citizens struggling in the recent economic downturn.  Congress has been working swiftly to address the housing crisis and the skyrocketing costs of food and energy, but we need to make sure that we help those who need it now.  This legislation provides an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits to those who have exhausted their regular 26 weeks of benefits – a provision that could help as many as 24,400 Rhode Islanders.  Unemployed Americans want to get back to work, but in many places jobs are scarce.  We must not punish them for the failings of our economy, and this emergency spending measure demonstrates Congress’s commitment to those in greatest need.

We have a chance today to reject the status quo policies of the Bush Administration by setting new priorities for our nation.  I urge my colleagues to support efforts to prevent further blank check funding for Iraq, endorse a responsible new strategy for bringing our troops home and provide support to Americans struggling to make ends meet.