Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I believe we need more information about our situation in Iraq. I would like to offer an amendment to add additional requests for information to a section of the bill that the Appropriations Committee added, appropriately so, an amendment offered by the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) that requires the President to submit quarterly reports to Congress on military operations and reconstruction efforts in Iraq. I think the committee did the right thing. I think we should ask for more information. And so my amendment would add additional requirements to three sections of the reporting provision already in the bill. One provision in the bill asks for a description of progress made toward the holding of free and fair elections. My amendment would add to that section a schedule for the transfer of power to the Iraqi people, including the drafting of an Iraqi constitution. A second section already in the bill asks for a description of the extent of international participation in the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq, including the amount of provision for financial assistance. I would add a schedule for the provision of financial assistance from other nations and from the United Nations be added as a requirement.”