John Yarmuth: “I rise on behalf of Mr. Klein of Florida and myself to offer an amendment to the fiscal year 2009 National Defense…”

“I rise on behalf of Mr. Klein of Florida and myself to offer an amendment to the fiscal year 2009 National Defense Authorization Act, requiring Iraq to help support our troops stationed in their country. Oil revenues have helped generate a multibillion-dollar surplus in Iraq that is expected to reach $180 billion within 3 years. Still, American taxpayers send $339 million to Iraq each day, money that can be invested here, as gas prices are soaring, education is lagging, health care is increasingly out of reach, and everywhere American families are struggling. When the administration negotiates a Status of Forces Agreement this year, this amendment will require them to negotiate commonsense terms for Iraq to provide support for our military operations on their soil. This arrangement could be similar to the plan we have with South Korea, where they pay our security costs, or in Japan, which pays for 75 percent of the cost of maintaining troops and grants U.S. base rights. Whatever the arrangement, this amendment would ensure that Americans no longer have to shoulder the burden alone. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment.”