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Current troop funding bill inadequately funds U.S. soldiers in Iraq

U.S. Representative Virginia Foxx (NC-05) today voted against new troop funding legislation that calls for a 90-day deadline for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq and allows only 60 days’ worth of funding for the troops. This legislation is the next version of troop funding drawn up by the Democrats on the heels of a veto of the last failed troop funding bill.

“Despite the fact that the military is running out of money to fund our troops in Iraq, the Democrats are ramming more irresponsible and unacceptable legislation down our soldier’s throats,” Foxx said. “At this point it is crystal clear that the House Democrats’ bottom line is not providing for our troops—it is providing for their own political gain.”

The troop funding legislation contains withdrawal deadlines nearly identical to the previous version. Perhaps the most significant difference in the new legislation is the major reduction in funding. Today’s bills contain funding for 60 days instead of the full funding for the rest of fiscal year. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has warned the he might have to “shut down significant elements of the Department of Defense” should the Democrats cut off funding in 60 days.

“The Iraqi people are in the midst of a tremendous historical shift—from totalitarianism to democracy—and face the reality of violent extremists bent on taking over the country,” Foxx said. “If we cut funding and precipitously pull out of Iraq, we are abandoning the Iraqi people and endangering the future stability of the region.”

“Our military leaders should be the ones making this decision, not a group of politicians looking to score political points by slowly choking off our troops’ funding and pushing our military to the brink of defeat. Failure in Iraq is more than just an ill-advised retreat: it is conceding to an enemy who will become more entrenched and pose a renewed threat to our nation,” Foxx said.

The 90-day timeline for withdrawal was defeated 171-255. The 60-day funding bill passed the House by a narrow margin of 221-205. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has indicated that it stands almost no chance of passing the Senate.

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