Lee Applauds Decision to Bars Funds for Permanent Bases in Iraq
(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) applauded the inclusion of ban on funds the establishment of permanent military bases in Iraq in a defense spending bill the House is widely expected to pass today.
“This is a very important first step towards taking the target off of our troops’ backs and making it clear that we will not maintain a permanent military presence in Iraq,” said Lee, who introduced legislation in June, 2005 to prevent the establishment of permanent bases that now has the bipartisan support of 86 cosponsors.
The fiscal year 2007 Department of Defense appropriations conference report that the House will vote on today includes language barring funds from going towards the establishment of permanent military bases in Iraq:
Sec. 9012. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be obligated or expended by the United States Government for a purpose as follows:
To establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq.
To exercise United States control over any oil resource of Iraq.
Last week, Lee led a bipartisan group of 72 Representatives in writing to members of the conference committee on the Defense appropriations bill, calling on them to protect the provision.
“One area where policymakers and experts across the political spectrum agree is that the United States should make clear that it does not seek a permanent military presence in Iraq,” the letter stated. “A major factor fueling the insurgency in Iraq is the perception of many Iraqis that the United States has long term aims in their country.”
The provision was inserted in the House version by Rep. John Murtha in subcommittee, after a similar provision introduced by Lee was removed from the Iraq supplemental appropriations bill in conference, despite having been passed by both the House and Senate.
When the bill came to the floor in June, the House defeated an amendment introduced by Rep. Steve King (R-IA) to strip out the provision by a vote of 50 – 376.
The final language in the conference report comes from the Senate version of the bill, and an amendment offered by Senator Joe Biden, which was approved by the Senate on August 3rd.
“It’s a good start, but this language will only apply to funds for the FY07 fiscal year. We need to make the policy of the United States not to have permanent military bases in Iraq,” said Lee.
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