Sen. Sessions on the Senate retreat bill

Statement of U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions On Passage Of Iraq/Afghanistan Supplemental Spending Bill

Thursday, March 29, 2007

WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) today issued the following statement after the Senate's passage of the Fiscal Year 2007 supplemental appropriations bill:

"I voted against the supplemental appropriations bill because mandating a withdrawal date from Iraq would undercut the authority of the President and General Petraeus. It mandates how and where soldiers must be deployed. If Senators really want to force American troops out of Iraq, Congress could withhold funding since it holds the power of the purse. President Bush has promised to veto any bill that includes a withdrawal date. This misguided attempt to micromanage the war will only delay the funding our troops need to fight the war.

"Though it is too early to express a certain opinion, some progress is being made in Iraq now. For Congress to order the pull-out of troops when substantial progress may be occurring this fall is irresponsible. I am very disappointed in this vote. The vote was very close and I hope this mandate may be reversed after the President's veto."