Mark Warner: “The amendment embraces provisions which provide the ability for the Senate--indeed, the Congress as a whole--to become…”

“The amendment embraces provisions which provide the ability for the Senate--indeed, the Congress as a whole--to become better advised with regard to the President's position on the compliance or noncompliance with the benchmarks, as well as an independent group headed by the former commandant of the Marine Corps, General Jones, as to the proficiency and the professional ability of the Iraqi security forces. Secondly, another provision allows the GAO to give an independent analysis to the Congress on the Iraqi Government's achievement or nonachievement of the benchmarks. This is an amendment to help keep us informed.”