Council for a Livable World Applauds Passage of the Afghanistan Amendment to NDAA
The Council for a Livable World applauds the House of Representatives for the passage of the McGovern-Jones-Smith amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA.) The amendment was sponsored by Reps. Jim McGovern (D-MA,) Walter Jones (R-NC,) Adam Smith (D-WA,) Barbara Lee (D-CA,) and John Garamendi (D-CA.)
“After more than a decade of war and billions of dollars, Congress has finally decided to end the war,” said John Isaacs, executive director of Council for a Livable World. “For the first time, a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives supports an accelerated removal of American troops from Afghanistan by 2014.”
Last November, the Senate took a similar position when it approved an amendment offered by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) also urging an exit from Afghanistan by a bi-partisan vote of 62-33.
“We applaud the efforts of Representatives McGovern, Jones, Smith, Lee and Garamendi in steering the amendment to passage,” added Isaacs.
The amendment strikes language from the committee version of the bill that supported a continued U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014. The amendment also urged a vote of Congress if troops are to remain in Afghanistan beyond 2014.
“Over 60,000 American troops remain in Afghanistan, this amendment will help bring them home – for good,” said Isaacs.
The War in Afghanistan has been America’s longest war. It has lasted more than eleven years and cost 2,000 American lives and nearly $600 billion.
The amendment was endorsed from the floor by Representatives Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Rich Nugent (R-FL) Armed Services Committeeman Chairman Howard Buck McKeon (R-PA) said that he would not oppose the amendment. “The views of Chairman McKeon certainly helped shepherd the amendment to passage,” added Isaacs.
The amendment was adopted with 305 votes, including a majority of House Republicans.
To see this article in its original format, go HERE.