Barbara Lee: “Madam Speaker, less than a month ago Congress finally began the debate on the war in Afghanistan that should have really…”

“Madam Speaker, less than a month ago Congress finally began the debate on the war in Afghanistan that should have really been held 9 years ago. While evidence continues to mount that our military engagement in Afghanistan has become a quagmire of corruption and ill-defined objectives, the bill under consideration will provide, if you can believe this, another $37 billion for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that have already cost this Nation more than $1 trillion. Congress cannot continue to write a blank check for a war in Afghanistan that has ultimately made our country less safe. Our brave men and women in uniform have been put in an impossible situation in Afghanistan where there is no military solution. It is time to provide funding for only their safe and orderly withdrawal. No more funding for combat operations. It's a shame and disgrace that we cannot support justice long overdue for black farmers, or youth employment programs, or teachers, firefighters and police officers who need their jobs, or temporary assistance for needed families. Let's not spend another dollar to escalate America's longest war.”