Iraq: Great News, Your Calls and Letters Worked
The full Senate Wednesday approved an amendment offered by Sen. Joseph Biden (DE) that is intended to prevent the U.S. from establishing permanent military bases in Iraq and states that the U.S. should not control Iraqi oil resources. Congressional staff tell us that your phone calls and emails over the past few weeks helped persuade the Senate to attach the Biden language to the president’s FY06 request for emergency supplemental funding to support the war (H.R. 4939).
For the first time since the U.S. launched the invasion of Iraq in 2003, both chambers of Congress have now said the U.S. must change course in Iraq. The House in March passed a similar amendment barring expenditures on permanent bases as part of the emergency supplemental funding legislation.
The full Senate will likely approve the supplemental funding legislation containing the Biden amendment in the next week. Then the House and the Senate must meet to resolve differences between their two versions of the bill.
Thank Your Senators: Take Action
The Senate approved the Biden amendment on a voice vote, which means we don’t know who supported and who opposed this amendment. Still, thanking both your senators will help persuade them to ensure this amendment becomes law. So please tell both your senators how pleased you are that the Senate approved this amendment and ask them to continue to support strong language declaring the U.S. will not build permanent bases in Iraq and will initiate a withdrawal of troops this year. You can contact your senators directly from FCNL’s website.
Background
Your powerful voice is being heard and has propelled the Senate to act. Members of Congress are turning the president’s war supplemental into a vehicle for challenging the direction of U.S. policy in Iraq. Sen. Biden’s amendment states “None of the funds made available by title I of this Act may be made available to establish permanent military bases in Iraq or to exercise control over the oil infrastructure or oil resources of Iraq.”
FCNL does not support any additional funding for war and occupation in Iraq, but we know this supplemental funding legislation for the war will be approved. Therefore, we are urging Congress to use this bill as a vehicle to change the direction of the war, through the Biden amendment and the amendment in the House in March to prohibit negotiations for permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq.
The Senate “yes” vote for the unambiguous message in the Biden amendment makes it likely that this critical policy statement will remain in the bill as a House and Senate conference committee reconciles the two chambers’ different versions before it is enacted.
Contacting Legislators
Contact your members of Congress through FCNL's web site.
Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Sen. ________
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Rep. ________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Contacting the Administration
Contact the President through FCNL's web site.
White House Comment Desk:
202 456-1111
Fax: 202-456-2461
White House web site
President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
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