WASHINGTON - Madame Speaker, tomorrow, this body will vote on the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health and Iraq Accountability Act.

After four years of failed policies from the Bush Administration and absolutely no accountability from the previous Republican-led Congresses, this body will have the opportunity to say enough. 

We can say enough to continuing an open-ended war with no end in sight. 

We can say enough to giving away hard-earned taxpayer dollars to the Iraqi government without any real mechanisms of accountability. 

And, we can say enough to ignoring the will of the American people, who have overwhelmingly demanded a new direction and a new course in Iraq.  

This week, the Iraq war entered its fifth year.   It has already eclipsed the length of U.S. participation in the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.  More than 3,200 American heroes have paid the ultimate sacrifice, while more than 24,000 have been injured.  And, tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed, just as millions are fleeing the country.

Despite this immense sacrifice and hardship, the President’s war strategy has not made the Middle East or our nation safer. 

Today, the Middle East is less stable then it was in 2003.  An Iraq in chaos and an emboldened Iran has fundamentally changed the balance of power in the region in a way that undermines the security of our nation and the region. 

The war has caused us to lose sight of our mission in Afghanistan where the Taliban is resurgent, and Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and other key members of al-Qaeda – the terrorist group responsible for killing over 3,000 Americans on 9/11 – are still at large and are still plotting against us. 

In fact, our own National Intelligence Estimate tells us that the war in Iraq has increased the global terror threat.

Two weeks ago, I visited Iraq and met with our brave servicemen and women.  I deeply admire these individuals, and their families.  Out of pure selflessness, and a profound love for our nation, they have volunteered to serve.  They do so humbly and honorably. 

The administration owes them a strategy that is worthy of their sacrifice.  And, when they fail to provide it, we must hold them accountable. 

Our nation can no longer afford to follow the failed policies put forward by President Bush.  We must step forward, abandon the rubber stamp policies of the previous Congress, and reassert our place as a co-equal branch of government.  Tomorrow, we will have the opportunity to meet this obligation and put the administration on notice that the days of writing a blank check for their mistaken and mismanaged war are over. 

Madame Speaker, when we send our men and women to Iraq without the proper equipment, training, and rest, as the President continues to do, we expose them to more danger.  This legislation recognizes this fact by requiring the President to honor the standards the Department of Defense has set for troop readiness, training, and equipment.

When our wounded warriors return to the United States, we, as a nation, have an obligation to ensure that they are taken care of.  There is no excuse for the deplorable conditions and neglect that our soldiers have faced at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  That is a national disgrace.  This legislation addresses our veterans’ health care crisis by adding $1.7 billion to treat the growing number of veterans; address the maintenance backlogs at VA health care facilities; and ensure a sufficient level of personnel to deliver quality service.

This legislation recognizes that the only solution in Iraq is political and diplomatic.  As General Petraeus, the top military commander in Iraq, has said “there is no military solution to a problem like that in Iraq.”  This legislation will hold the Iraqi government accountable by requiring them to meet their own benchmarks for political progress.  We are putting them on notice that they must take the political steps necessary to achieve stability, including militia disarmament and a plan that equitably shares oil revenue.  We are also sending a strong, clear message to the Bush administration that they must engage in the tough diplomacy needed to ensure that Iraq’s neighbors do not continue to undermine the efforts of our troops.

And, most significantly, this legislation will lead to a responsible end to our military engagement in Iraq through a phased redeployment of U.S. combat troops. 

Instead of continuing the President’s policy of an open-ended commitment, strategically redeploying combat troops from Iraq while maintaining a smaller presence to train Iraqi troops and engage in counter-terrorism operations is the most responsible strategy in Iraq.  It will remove our troops from direct engagement; it will require Iraqis to protect Iraqis; and it will allow our nation to be better prepared for other contingencies affecting the security of our nation.

Let there be no mistake – this is the President’s war.  But, the President must be held accountable for his military and diplomatic failures.  With this vote, we are demanding that the President meet his obligations to our service members.  With this vote, we are fulfilling our promise to the American people that we set a new direction in Iraq.  And, with this vote we are putting forward the leadership needed to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible conclusion and bring our troops home. 

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