Norman D. Dicks: “This amendment follows the Lee amendment and the Garamendi amendment in cutting about $17.1 billion from the Overseas…”

“This amendment follows the Lee amendment and the Garamendi amendment in cutting about $17.1 billion from the Overseas Contingency Operation Fund. I myself feel that we could be reducing our troop levels faster, but I don't think we should take the money out at this point until we have a better understanding of the pace of the withdrawal. Now, we know the President's plan is 10,000 this year and another 23,000 next year. And so there will be some savings in the overseas contingency account as those troops come home. But I think it's too early to make a decision on that. Better left to do it in conference, where we can make a reasoned judgment and talk to the Pentagon and the Congressional Research Service so that we have a better idea of how much savings this will be. I feel that this is premature at this point. The other two amendments were soundly defeated, and I think the same fate will be here. I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina.”