John Hall: “Mr. Speaker, I stand with the other members of my freshman class to support this important resolution. My election and…”

“Mr. Speaker, I stand with the other members of my freshman class to support this important resolution. My election and those of my fellow freshman colleagues were an unmistakable signal from the American people. They believe the President's path in Iraq is wrong and they want new voices to produce change. Mr. Speaker, I am one of those voices, and today I rise to speak with the American people to oppose the President's escalation. The United States requires a new path in Iraq, a path that will deploy our troops out of Iraq; a path that will force the Iraqi Government to plan for its own defense; a path that will engage countries throughout the region and around the world to help stabilize and protect Iraq; and a path that will allow the United States military to rebuild and refocus on the important mission of destroying al Qaeda and defending America from the threat of international terrorism. Sadly, the escalation proposed by the President does none of these things.”