URGENT: Iraq Vote Expected Tonight

May 10, 2007

Dear Friend,

Late last night, there was a surprise announcement that the House of Representatives will hold several important votes tonight. It is urgent that those of us who believe the U.S. should withdraw from Iraq call our Representatives THIS AFTERNOON and urge them to support legislation to end the war.

Click here to look up your Representative’s phone number.

There are two pieces of legislation that will be voted on tonight: a bill sponsored by Jim McGovern (D-MA) mandating a withdrawal of troops from Iraq, and the Supplemental Appropriations bill that conditions further funding for the war on President Bush and the Iraqi government meeting specific benchmarks toward stability in Iraq.

The McGovern bill, H.R. 2237, is the strongest legislation to end the war that has been considered by the House to date. This bill will require that the Department of Defense begin redeployment of armed forces and military contractors no later than 90 days after it passes and complete withdrawal 180 days after that.

If the House does not pass the McGovern bill, it will move on to consider the Supplemental Appropriations bill, H.R. 2206. This legislation establishes benchmarks for progress in Iraq and conditions further funding on a vote by Congress in July that progress toward these benchmarks is being made. While not as strong as the McGovern bill, the Supplemental Appropriations bill is still a significant repudiation of President Bush’s war policies. Indeed, President Bush considers this bill a significant enough challenge that he has threatened to veto it if it is sent to his desk.

Your support in favor of these bills is urgently needed! Click here to look up your Representative’s phone number.

The legislation being considered today is part of a measured strategy by critics of the war to place increasing pressure on Congressional Republicans to force President Bush to end the Iraq war. Strong votes in favor of this legislation will continue this process. Reports of Republican Members of Congress meeting with President Bush to express their discomfort with the war in today’s New York Times and the Washington Post demonstrate the success of this strategy.

We are making progress in our effort to end this ill conceived war, but we need to keep up the pressure! Please call your Representatives today! Urge them to vote “Yes” on the McGovern bill to end the war, H.R. 2237, and “Yes” on the Supplemental Appropriations bill, H.R. 2206, that places tough conditions on further war funding.

Make your voice heard! Click here to look up your Representative’s phone number.

Sincerely,

John Isaacs and Guy Stevens