Nelson Statement on Iraq Supplemental Spending Bill

Mar 22, 10:50 AM CST

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee today will consider a war supplemental spending measure that includes language offered by Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson that establishes benchmarks for the Iraqi government to meet and requires regular reports to Congress on the Iraqi’s progress from the U.S. Commander in Iraq. Nelson issued the following statement on the provision:

“There are two priorities with regard to Iraq. First, provide the necessary resources to our troops to carry out their mission. Second, continue the discussion about U.S. policy in Iraq and the future role of the U.S. military there. The benchmarks included in the supplemental successfully transfer accountability for Iraq’s success to the Iraqis and requires regular reports to Congress on their progress. That information can be used by Congress to make future decisions about U.S. military presence in Iraq.”

Nelson has pushed for establishing measurable benchmarks, or “conditions for staying in Iraq”, for the Iraqi government to meet in order for continued U.S. military presence since his 2004 Thanksgiving Holiday visit with troops in Iraq.

Nelson will support the language as included in the supplemental spending bill. Also included is language that calls on President Bush to begin to redeploy U.S. forces from Iraq, with a goal of having only a limited number of troops remaining in the country on March 31, 2008. The remaining American forces would provide for force protection, training and equipping Iraqi troops, and targeted counterterrorism options. Nelson does not support arbitrary deadlines for troop withdrawal but will support the compromise language that includes benchmarks and reports to Congress.

– by Eric Fought | Send this to a friend

  1. Where’s the statement explaining why Ben just voted with the GOP against $140.2 million in property tax relief for Nebraska taxpayers(and educational funding for children with special needs) in order to to keep income taxes low for the richest .3 percent of Americans?

    Sirota has the story.
    — Don Kuhns    Mar 22, 09:54 PM CST #
  2. Ben, good choice on a hard vote.

    Eric, thanks for throwing this statement up on the blog.
    — John Owens-Ream    Mar 23, 02:50 AM CST #
  3. Don,
    Poor folks don’t contribute to PACs. You know that.
    — Brian T. Osborn    Mar 23, 03:45 PM CST #

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