Common Sense

“This bill fully funds our U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, improves health care for our combat wounded troops and veterans and sends a message to Iraqi political leaders that it is time for them to take responsibility for their own nation’s future. This bill does not authorize an immediate withdrawal. I voted against immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops and led the effort to give the Commander-in-Chief critical flexibility in managing troop rotations. I believe this is a reasonable, balanced approach that improves the chances for victory in Iraq.”

As Chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, Edwards authored $1.7 billion in the bill to improve VA health care for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, $1.7 billion for military construction, and $3.1 billion to fully fund the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, which means better barracks, housing and training facilities when troops return from combat.

“As someone who has represented over 40,000 Army soldiers who have served in Iraq, it was important to include vital funding in this bill that make a commitment to improved health care, housing and facilities for our soldiers and veterans,” said Edwards.

As recommended by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group headed by former President Bush’s Secretary of State Jim Baker, Edwards supported provisions in the bill to refocus the U.S. military mission in Iraq and Afghanistan to prioritize fighting terrorism and the training of Iraqi security forces, and redeploy U.S. combat forces in Iraq by August 2008 to accomplish this goal. Specifically, the House bill would allow a significant number of troops to be left behind in Iraq for anti-terrorism missions, training Iraqi forces and protecting coalition forces. Fewer than half of the more than 140,000 U.S. troops in Iraq today are combat forces.

“I supported changing the primary mission of U.S. forces in Iraq by August 2008 from combat to training Iraqi forces and fighting terrorists, which reflects the bipartisan recommendation of the Iraq Study Group.  The bottom line is that I want our troops fighting Al Qaida and terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq, not serving as targets in Baghdad for Sunni and Shiite Muslims fighting each other in a religious civil war. Americans have sacrificed over 3,200 of our sons and daughters and over $400 billion dollars in hard-earned taxes to help the Iraqis in a war that has lasted longer than America’s involvement in World War II, but ultimate success will come only when the Iraqi government understands it has to lead the fight for political, economic and military security for its nation’s future.”

In February, Edwards spoke out publicly and led the opposition to proposals put forward by Congressman John Murtha and Speaker Nancy Pelosi that would have limited the president’s constitutional role as Commander-in-Chief. As a result of Edwards’ efforts, a waiver was included in the bill to allow the president the flexibility to manage the war and troop rotations.

“I was one of the first to speak out publicly on proposals I thought would overly restrict the Commander-in-Chief’s ability to manage troop rotations. The bill now fully funds the president’s troop surge in Iraq while refocusing our mission there to fighting terrorists, training Iraqi security forces and increasing efforts to fight the resurgence of the Taliban and Al Qaida in Afghanistan.”

The bill passed the House 218 to 212 with one member voting present.

Defense Health Care

The Supplemental includes a total appropriation of $2.8 billion for Defense Health Care, which is $1.7 billion above the President’s request.  The additional funding supports new initiatives to enhance medical services for active duty forces and mobilized personnel, and their family members.  These initiatives include:

·       $450 million for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder/Counseling
·       $450 million for Traumatic Brain Injury care and research
·       $730 million to prevent health care fee increases for our troops
·       $20 million to address the problems at Walter Reed
·       $14.8 million for burn care

Veterans’ Health Care

Edwards wrote the language in the bell that funds $1.7 billion above the President’s request for initiatives to address the health care needs of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and the backlog in maintaining VA health care facilities, including:

·       $550 million to address the backlog in maintaining VA health care facilities - intended to prevent the VA from experiencing a situation similar to that found at Walter Reed

·       $250 million for medical administration to ensure there are sufficient personnel to support the growing number of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and to maintain a high level of services for all veterans

·       $229 million for treating the growing number of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans
·       $100 million for contract mental health care - with this funding allowing the VA to contract with private mental health care providers to ensure that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are seen in the most timely and least disruptive fashion, including members of the Guard and Reserve

·       $62 million to speed up the processing of claims of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan

Steps to Support Our Troops

The bill also includes other additions above the President’s request to support our troops, including:

§       $3.1 billion to fully fund the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.
§       $2.5 billion more to address the current readiness crisis of our stateside troops, including ensuring that they are better equipped and trained.

§       $1.4 billion more for military housing allowances
§       $311 million more for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles for troops in Iraq
§       $222 million more for infrared countermeasures for Air Force aircraft to address the growing threat against U.S. air operations in Iraq and Afghanistan

Edwards is co-chair of the House Army Caucus and represents District 17.

“This bill fully funds our U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, improves health care for our combat wounded troops and veterans and sends a message to Iraqi political leaders that it is time for them to take responsibility for their own nation’s future. This bill does not authorize an immediate withdrawal. I voted against immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops and led the effort to give the Commander-in-Chief critical flexibility in managing troop rotations. I believe this is a reasonable, balanced approach that improves the chances for victory in Iraq.”

As Chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, Edwards authored $1.7 billion in the bill to improve VA health care for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, $1.7 billion for military construction, and $3.1 billion to fully fund the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, which means better barracks, housing and training facilities when troops return from combat.

“As someone who has represented over 40,000 Army soldiers who have served in Iraq, it was important to include vital funding in this bill that make a commitment to improved health care, housing and facilities for our soldiers and veterans,” said Edwards.

As recommended by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group headed by former President Bush’s Secretary of State Jim Baker, Edwards supported provisions in the bill to refocus the U.S. military mission in Iraq and Afghanistan to prioritize fighting terrorism and the training of Iraqi security forces, and redeploy U.S. combat forces in Iraq by August 2008 to accomplish this goal. Specifically, the House bill would allow a significant number of troops to be left behind in Iraq for anti-terrorism missions, training Iraqi forces and protecting coalition forces. Fewer than half of the more than 140,000 U.S. troops in Iraq today are combat forces.

“I supported changing the primary mission of U.S. forces in Iraq by August 2008 from combat to training Iraqi forces and fighting terrorists, which reflects the bipartisan recommendation of the Iraq Study Group.  The bottom line is that I want our troops fighting Al Qaida and terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq, not serving as targets in Baghdad for Sunni and Shiite Muslims fighting each other in a religious civil war. Americans have sacrificed over 3,200 of our sons and daughters and over $400 billion dollars in hard-earned taxes to help the Iraqis in a war that has lasted longer than America’s involvement in World War II, but ultimate success will come only when the Iraqi government understands it has to lead the fight for political, economic and military security for its nation’s future.”

In February, Edwards spoke out publicly and led the opposition to proposals put forward by Congressman John Murtha and Speaker Nancy Pelosi that would have limited the president’s constitutional role as Commander-in-Chief. As a result of Edwards’ efforts, a waiver was included in the bill to allow the president the flexibility to manage the war and troop rotations.

“I was one of the first to speak out publicly on proposals I thought would overly restrict the Commander-in-Chief’s ability to manage troop rotations. The bill now fully funds the president’s troop surge in Iraq while refocusing our mission there to fighting terrorists, training Iraqi security forces and increasing efforts to fight the resurgence of the Taliban and Al Qaida in Afghanistan.”

The bill passed the House 218 to 212 with one member voting present.

Defense Health Care

The Supplemental includes a total appropriation of $2.8 billion for Defense Health Care, which is $1.7 billion above the President’s request.  The additional funding supports new initiatives to enhance medical services for active duty forces and mobilized personnel, and their family members.  These initiatives include:

·       $450 million for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder/Counseling
·       $450 million for Traumatic Brain Injury care and research
·       $730 million to prevent health care fee increases for our troops
·       $20 million to address the problems at Walter Reed
·       $14.8 million for burn care

Veterans’ Health Care

Edwards wrote the language in the bell that funds $1.7 billion above the President’s request for initiatives to address the health care needs of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and the backlog in maintaining VA health care facilities, including:

·       $550 million to address the backlog in maintaining VA health care facilities - intended to prevent the VA from experiencing a situation similar to that found at Walter Reed

·       $250 million for medical administration to ensure there are sufficient personnel to support the growing number of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and to maintain a high level of services for all veterans

·       $229 million for treating the growing number of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans
·       $100 million for contract mental health care - with this funding allowing the VA to contract with private mental health care providers to ensure that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are seen in the most timely and least disruptive fashion, including members of the Guard and Reserve

·       $62 million to speed up the processing of claims of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan

Steps to Support Our Troops

The bill also includes other additions above the President’s request to support our troops, including:

§       $3.1 billion to fully fund the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.
§       $2.5 billion more to address the current readiness crisis of our stateside troops, including ensuring that they are better equipped and trained.

§       $1.4 billion more for military housing allowances
§       $311 million more for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles for troops in Iraq
§       $222 million more for infrared countermeasures for Air Force aircraft to address the growing threat against U.S. air operations in Iraq and Afghanistan

Edwards is co-chair of the House Army Caucus and represents District 17.