[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
[October 22, 2007]
[Pages 1366-1367]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on Congressional Action on Supplemental Appropriations
October 22, 2007

    Thank you all for joining me. I just finished visiting with veterans 
and members of military support organizations, the family of the fallen. 
Thank you all for being here. I'm proud you're here.
    These patriots have come to the Oval Office to make sure and to make 
clear that our troops have the full commitment of our Government. And I 
strongly agree that we must provide our troops with the help and support 
they need to get the job done. Parts of this war are complicated, but 
one part is not, and that is, America should do what it takes to support 
our troops and protect our people. And today I sent Congress an updated 
supplemental war funding request that will do just that.
    The majority of the supplemental funding is for day-to-day military 
operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The bill provides for basic needs 
like bullets and body armor, protection against IEDs, and Mine Resistant 
Ambush Protected vehicles. It also funds training missions, vital 
Embassy programs, improvements in Iraq and Iraqi security forces, and 
intelligence operations that protect our troops. These are urgent 
military necessities, and the supplemental was prepared in close 
consultation with our commanders on the ground. This funding is what 
General Petraeus and other military 
leaders say we need, and Congress ought to give it to them.
    Our military commanders will use this money to continue carrying out 
their missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. In Afghanistan, our troops, NATO 
allies, and Afghan forces are making gains against the Taliban and Al 
Qaida. In Iraq, our campaign to provide security for the Iraqi people 
has been difficult and dangerous, but it is achieving results. Al Qaida 
and other extremists have been driven from strongholds in places like 
Anbar Province and parts of Diyala Province. In Baghdad, the number of 
Iraqi civilians murdered by terrorists and death squads is down sharply. 
Throughout Iraq, the number of American servicemembers killed in 
September was the lowest since July 2006. And the level of violence 
during Ramadan was down significantly from last year.
    Last month, General Petraeus said he 
believes that our successes in Iraq mean we can maintain the same level 
of security with fewer American forces. I accepted this recommendation 
that we not replace about 2,200 marines who left Anbar last month. We 
expect to bring home another 3,500 soldiers by Christmas. The funds in 
the supplemental are crucial to continuing this policy of return on 
success. Every Member of Congress who wants to see both success in Iraq 
and our troops begin to come home should strongly support this bill.

[[Page 1367]]

    I know some in Congress are against the war and are seeking ways to 
demonstrate that opposition. I recognize their position, and they should 
make their views heard, but they ought to make sure our troops have what 
it takes to succeed. Our men and women on the frontlines should not be 
caught in the middle of partisan disagreements in Washington, DC. I 
often hear that war critics oppose my decisions, but still support the 
troops. Well, I'll take them at their word, and this is the chance for 
them to show it, that they support the troops.
    Along with support for our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, the 
supplemental also includes emergency funding for other critical national 
security needs. It includes money to improve medical care for our 
wounded warriors. It funds equipment repair and upgrades the strategic 
readiness of the Army. It provides crucial relief for Iraqi refugees. It 
supports the peacekeeping mission of the United Nations in Darfur. It 
delivers vital assistance for our partners in Mexico and Central 
America, who are working to break up drug cartels and fight organized 
crime and stop human trafficking. All of these are urgent priorities of 
the United States, and the Congress ought to fund them without delay.
    One reason Congress can move the supplemental quickly is that it's 
had more than 8 months to study most of the provisions. In fact, nearly 
75 percent of the funding requested in the supplemental was submitted 
along with my annual budget in February. We took this step in direct 
response to requests from Congress. Members of Congress should consider 
the supplemental promptly. They should keep it focused on true 
necessities, not pet projects. And they should pass a good, clean bill 
as soon as possible. Congress should not go home for the holidays while 
our troops are still waiting for the funds they need.
    In addition to passing the supplemental, Congress also needs to 
complete clean appropriations bills for the Departments of Defense and 
Veterans Affairs. The House and the Senate have passed versions of both 
these bills, but leaders in the House have not yet named conferees. They 
should name them now so that Members of Congress can work out their 
differences and send me these vital bills as soon as possible.
    I want to thank all those who are standing with me today for their 
strong support for our troops, our veterans, and our military families. 
May God bless you all. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 1:48 p.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the 
White House. In his remarks, he referred to Gen. David H. Petraeus, USA, 
commanding general, Multi-National Force--Iraq.