Cardin Signs Discharge Petition Calling For Full House Debate On Iraq

Cardin Signs Discharge Petition Calling For Full House Debate On Iraq

Wednesday April 05, 2006

Congressman Also Co-Sponsors Resolution Expressing Opposition to Establishing Permanent U.S. Military Bases in Iraq

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin has signed a discharge petition calling for a full, 17-hour debate in the U.S. House of Representatives on U.S. policy in Iraq. The discharge petition calls for the House to debate the strategy and timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. It requires 218 signatures to bring up for a vote, and it would allow members to offer any relevant amendments to the resolution on Iraq policy.

"I have signed this discharge petition because the American people have a right to a full debate in Congress on U.S. policy in Iraq. This resolution calling for a debate on Iraq has been bottled up in two committees for nearly a year without any action. To date, House debate on Iraq has been severely limited, and that's wrong. The House needs to engage in a full debate on our policy and ultimate strategy in Iraq."

The Congressman also co-sponsored H. Con. Res. 197, which states that it is the policy of the United States not to enter into any base agreement with the Government of Iraq that would lead to a permanent United States military presence in Iraq.

"I do not support a long-term U.S. presence in Iraq. Our goal should be to encourage an independent, sovereign Iraq without any long-term occupational presence," said Rep. Cardin.

http://www.cardin.house.gov/index.cfm?ContentID=2107&ParentID=29&SectionID=42&SectionTree=29,42&lnk=b&ItemID=2092