Barbara Lee Resolution Calls for Troop Redeployment To Offset ‘Iraq Recession’
Press Release
For Immediate Release: March 5, 2008
Contact: Cleve Mesidor, (202) 225-2661
(Washington, DC) – Two weeks before the 5th anniversary of the war in Iraq, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) is calling for the redeploy of troops in a new resolution connecting the economic slowdown to the occupation of Iraq. The legislation, which acknowledges the ‘Iraq recession,’ notes that the Iraq war will total more than $3 trillion. Congresswoman Lee released the following statement:
“It’s time for Congress to acknowledge the Iraq recession is directly related to the economic downturn we are scrambling to offset. The Bush administration has led us down a path where our security continues to be compromised abroad and our economy is deteriorating at home.
“There’s something wrong when 37 million people are living in poverty and more than 47 million are without health insurance, but we spend $10.3 billion a month to cover the cost of the war. The American people are bearing the brunt of the Iraq recession and want real solutions. A recent AP/ISOS poll revealed that 68 percent of Americans believe that exiting Iraq would help fix the country’s economic problems.
“The most important action Congress can take to address the Iraq recession is to fully fund the redeployment of our troops. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.”
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (Oakland-D) is co-chair of the Progressive Caucus and a co-founder of the Out of Iraq Caucus. She sits on the House Appropriations Committee, where she serves on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee, the State Foreign Operations Subcommittee and is Vice-Chair of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee.
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