Lipinski supports removal of troops from Iraq

Here's a release from Dan Lipinski and his "new" Chief of Staff in Washington:

Ray Hanania
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Congressman Dan Lipinski
3rd District, Illinois · 1717 Longworth Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-5701
Homepage: www.lipinski.house.gov

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jason Tai (202) 225-5701

Lipinski Votes to Start Redeployment of Troops from Iraq
Representative Continues Work for Implementation of Iraq Study Group Recommendations

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] Today, Congressman Lipinski voted for and helped pass H.R. 2956, the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act, which would require U.S. troops to begin a safe and orderly redeployment from Iraq within 120 days of the legislation’s enactment. This bill requires that by April 1, 2008, all American troops are withdrawn from Iraq except for a minimum number needed to protect U.S. diplomatic facilities, pursue al-Qaeda, and train Iraqi security forces. By January 31, 2008, the president would have to justify the need for these troops to stay in Iraq and specify the precise mission and cost.

H.R. 2956 passed the House by a largely partisan vote of 223-201, and the President has promised to veto this legislation should it reach his desk.

“America’s Iraq policy must change and we must begin bringing our troops home,” said Lipinski. “But while today’s legislation sends a strong message, if we are to truly get the President to change his Iraq policy we must have bipartisan support. That is why Congress must pass H.R. 2574, a bill I helped introduce which institutes the bipartisan recommendations of the Iraq Study Group. This bill has already garnered nearly 60 cosponsors, including more than 30 Republicans, and offers the only bipartisan plan for changing the course in Iraq and bringing our troops home.”

Among other things, H.R. 2574 would require the Iraqi government to meet real benchmarks in governance and reconciliation in order to receive continued U.S. economic and military support. This bill would also require the president to report back to Congress frequently and provide candid assessments of the situation on the ground in Iraq. Furthermore, this bill would shift U.S. military forces from a combat mission to training, equipping, and advising the Iraqi military and security forces. Finally, this bill would set a goal for a redeployment of most troops by April 1, 2008.

“The Iraq Study Group provided thoughtful recommendations on how we can move toward successfully concluding the war and bringing our troops home, and we should start implementing those immediately,” said Lipinski. “This bill provides the best chance to bring stability to Iraq while taking our troops out of harms way.”

The Iraq Study Group was created in March 2006 at the request of a bipartisan group of members of Congress and was co-chaired by former Secretary of State James Baker and former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Lee Hamilton. In December 2006, the ISG released its recommendations and outlined a bipartisan approach to bringing a responsible conclusion to the Iraq war.

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Keith DevereauxLegislative AssistantCongressman Dan Lipinski1717 Longworth H.O.B.Washington, D.C. 20515
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