[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3829]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          IRAQ WAR RESOLUTION

  (Mr. ARCURI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, the American people and both Democrat and 
Republican Members of Congress are demanding a new direction in Iraq.
  It is long past time for Congress to debate whether or not the 
President's latest troop escalation will actually change the situation 
on the ground in Iraq. This is a debate that Congress must have. We 
will all have 5 minutes to explain to our constituents and to the 
American people and to our troops why we either support the President's 
strategy or why we think it is time for a new direction.
  This is the first time since the war began that every Member of the 
House will have 5 minutes to speak about the situation in Iraq. The 
last time Congress was allowed so much time for a debate on the war was 
during the lead-up to the first gulf war back in the 1990s.
  Mr. Speaker, every single one of us in this House supports the 
efforts our troops are making in Iraq. Some believe the best way to 
support them is to allow the President to conduct the war in any way he 
sees fit, without question. I believe it is our job in Congress to ask 
the tough questions, and that is what we are doing this week.

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