Rep. Miller and House Reject Further War Funding; Vote to Bring Troops Home and Fund Education for Veterans
WASHINGTON, D.C. – 5/15/08 – Congressman George Miller (D-CA) joined a majority of the House of Representatives in voting today to set a timeline to withdraw troops from Iraq today, to provide new education benefits to veterans who began their active duty service after September 11, 2001, and to extend unemployment benefits for people seeking work but not yet able to find a job. The votes were taken along with a separate bill to provide funding for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan requested by President Bush. Miller voted against further funding for the war and the measure did not pass.
Miller and the majority of the House voted to require that U.S. troops begin redeployment from Iraq within 30 days of enactment of the bill, with a goal of completing withdrawal of combat troops by December 2009. It also requires that U.S. reconstruction aid for Iraq be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Iraqi government. The United States now pays for virtually all of the costs of reconstruction in Iraq despite the billions of dollars in oil revenue the Iraqi government receives.
“It is time that Congress does what the President should have done long ago -- bring our troops back home responsibly, safely and quickly,” said Miller. “It is time for President Bush to listen to the American people and support this responsible timeline. Sadly, and yet again, the President has threatened to veto this bill as the Administration continues its failed policy in Iraq, continuing the war without end, regardless of the disastrous and ever mounting costs in lives and dollars and the continuing danger the war poses to America’s and the region’s long-term security.”
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Posted by PDP-Staff at 09:12PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Rep. Miller to Speak at Diablo Valley College
PLEASANT HILL, CA – 5/14/08 – On Friday, May 16, at 12:00 pm, U.S. Rep. George Miller will engage in a town meeting on the Diablo Valley College campus in Pleasant Hill, CA. In this public town meeting Rep. Miller will discuss his legislation to make college more affordable, the effort to stop the war in Iraq, the skyrocketing price of gas and other issues of concern to the student body. The discussion will include a question and answer session.
WHEN: May 16, 2008
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
WHO: Congressman George Miller (D-Martinez), chairman, Education and Labor Committee
Diablo Valley students and faculty
WHAT: Congressman Miller will engage in a Town Hall with students of Diablo Valley College.
WHERE: Diablo Valley College
Community Conference Center
321 Golf Club Road
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
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Posted by PDP-Staff at 09:19PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Congress Votes to Help Lower Oil and Gas Prices
In response to high gas prices, House and Senate vote today
to temporarily suspend filling Strategic Petroleum Reserve
WASHINGTON, D.C. – 5/13/08 – In response to record high gas prices, the House will vote today to temporarily stop filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), a move that is widely expected to lower oil prices by freeing up additional volume for the market. Congressman George Miller (D-CA) will vote in favor of the bi-partisan bill. The Senate passed a bill that included this SPR provision earlier today. The vote was 97-1.
The House and Senate bills, first proposed by Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid, differ slightly but both would suspend additional supplies to the SPR through the end of the year as long as the price of crude oil remains above $75 per barrel. Oil traded today at $125 per barrel.
“Economists agree that temporarily suspending these deliveries will offer some relief at the pump by freeing up additional oil supplies to the broader market,” said Miller. “It is, of course, not the only thing Congress can and should do to help consumers, but it is one concrete step that we have taken to help people now. President Bush is wrong to oppose our bill and I urge him to reconsider his position and approve it. The President should stop saying ‘No’ to every idea that is presented to him to help consumers struggling under exorbitant gas prices.”
energyandenvironment
gas prices
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Posted by PDP-Staff at 11:01PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
