Wilson Urges Skelton to Resist Political Ploy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2007

CONTACT: Kim Olive
(202) 225-2452 (Office)
(202) 420-9493 (Cell)

Wilson Urges Skelton to Resist Political Ploy
Calls on Chairman to Consider Clean Defense Authorization Bill

In response to recent news reports suggesting some Democrats may seek to include Iraq withdrawal language in the National Defense Authorization Act, Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee sent a letter to Committee Chairman Ike Skelton urging him to resist any such attempts.

Please find the text of the letter below.

May 7, 2007

Representative Ike Skelton
Committee on Armed Service
2120 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Skelton:

Recent press articles have indicated that some of our colleagues within the House of Representatives may attempt to include contentious Iraq-related language in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2008. Doing so would increase the risk of either a failed vote on the House floor or a veto by the Commander in Chief. Knowing that each committee member fully supports the interests and well-being of our troops, such a result would be inconsistent with the long-standing principles of the Committee on Armed Services. Therefore, we urge you to resist any attempts to include any such language in the NDAA.

Such matters should be deliberately addressed by this committee, in a separate venue, per regular order absent any special rules. An issue, that is as important as the Iraq war, deserves open debate, discussion, and analysis by this body prior to implementing any major changes to our military’s capabilities and missions.

We appreciate your personal attention to the matter and look forward to continuing our bipartisan work on such vital policy concerns.

Very truly yours,

Duncan Hunter
Jim Saxton
Thelma Drake
Terry Everett
Roscoe Bartlett
John McHugh
Mac Thornberry
Rob Bishop
Buck McKeon
Ken Calvert
Robin Hayes
Tom Cole
Todd Akin
Randy Forbes
Jo Ann Davis
John Kline
Mike Rogers
Trent Franks
Joe Wilson
Mike Conaway
Jeff Miller
Frank LoBiondo
Geoff Davis
Phil Gingrey
Michael Turner
Cathy McMorris Rodgers

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