Jerry Lewis: “I do not intend to take a lot of time. But it is important for all those listening, and who were concerned about this…”

“I do not intend to take a lot of time. But it is important for all those listening, and who were concerned about this issue, to know that we take this matter very, very seriously, and our motion is a serious one. It is my view that a ``yes'' vote for this bill is a bill that will undermine the potential effectiveness of our troops for the remainder of the time that they remain in Iraq, and that a ``no'' vote is the only way, the only way to express support for our troops' efforts and guarantee, in many ways, the opportunity for success. This legislation ought to focus on those troops. As I said earlier, it ought to focus on providing those in harm's way with the resources they need to complete their mission successfully. Further, it ought to respect, not micromanage, our combatant commanders who have the responsibility for carrying forward this war successfully. It's no secret that many Members of the House, both Republicans and Democrats, have strong reservations about the manner in which this legislation undermines the authority of the President and the Commander in Chief.”