U.S.
Rep. John Hall (D-Dover) issued the following statement today in support of H.R. 2346, The Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009.
"President Bush's war in Iraq was a war of choice. After Americans were viciously attacked by Al Qaeda from training camps in Afghanistan on September 11, 2001, Iraq was the wrong war at the wrong time in the wrong place. This supplemental appropriations bill funds President Obama's plan to end the Iraq war and refocus our brave military's efforts where they should be: finding and destroying the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.
Redeployment from a theater of combat is one of the most vulnerable of military operations. Great care must be exercised when pulling our troops out of Iraq to secure the safety of our soldiers and ensure a smooth transition of power to the Iraqi Government. I am proud to cast my vote for this historical effort to bring an end to this mistaken war.
The supplemental remedies the flawed policies of the past and properly funds our efforts in Afghanistan by focusing on defense, diplomacy, and development. The role of American and NATO forces in Afghanistan is not only to combat the Taliban and Al Qaeda, but also to provide the Afghan people the security to develop a viable political, economic, social, and security structure. We are providing funds to train Afghan army and police, spur economic development, strengthen governance, and expand the rule of law and diplomatic operations. Funding these critical operations will ensure that the country does not revert back to a breeding ground for Islamic terrorists.
This bill helps our troops stay safe while completing their mission, honors their service when they return home, and acknowledges the tremendous sacrifices made by not just the soldier, but the soldier's family as well. The supplemental includes $4.8 billion for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAPs) to protect our troops from roadside bombs, $1.2 billion for health and support programs for military families, and $734 million to retroactively compensate servicemembers and veterans $500 for every month their service was involuntarily extended by the Bush Administration's stop-loss orders.
Importantly, the supplemental also provides a total of $2 billion for pandemic flu response, to expand the federal stockpiles of anti-viral drugs, develop and purchase vaccines, assist state and local responses and support global efforts to track and contain the spread of a pandemic."
