Mike Pence: “I am deeply humbled by the level of support and utterances of respect even from those who disagree with the Pence…”

“I am deeply humbled by the level of support and utterances of respect even from those who disagree with the Pence amendment tonight, and I close tonight urging my colleagues to give due consideration to the Pence amendment. As the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp) said so eloquently, it is the only solution that will work, that will balance the needs of the American taxpayers and the needs of a nation, nation of Iraq, and it does not trouble itself, Mr. Chairman, with the choice between should we make the reconstruction dollars a grant or should we make them a loan. The Pence amendment is the reasonable middle ground that says that we will speed the first 50 percent of resources urgently to the needs on the ground in Iraq, securing that nation for the blessings of liberty for themselves and their posterity, but in the balance we will recognize, as millions of Americans do, that this is an oil rich nation, producing 2 million barrels of oil a day, Mr. Chairman, and by the middle of next year their own foreign minister projects 3.5 million barrels a day with revenues in the tens of billions of dollars, a truly creditworthy nation and a nation with whom we should enter into a creditor and debtor relationship. A partnership is the very core of the Pence amendment between the American people and the people of Iraq, a partnership in their civil society and future. I urge its consideration. I urge its passage.”