Legislation & Politics

Letter to House in Support of FY07 Supplemental Spending Bill

March 21, 2007

Dear Representative:

On behalf of the 1.4 million members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), I am writing in strong support of the House emergency supplemental spending bill (H.R. 1591), and urge you to vote in favor.  It takes important, necessary steps towards bringing the Iraq war to an end, and funds vital domestic priorities.

The length of the Iraq War has now eclipsed our country's participation in both World Wars and the Korean War.  Even Bush Administration officials have acknowledged that the situation in Iraq has deteriorated into a civil war.  From the outset, the Administration has miscalculated the costs of the war, failed to provide an effective post-invasion plan, and sent our troops into battle without sufficient and effective protective equipment.  The supplemental spending bill's provision requiring a withdrawal of most of our country's forces from Iraq no later than mid-2008 reflects a realistic assessment that a fundamental course-change is imperative to end this misguided war.  At the same time, the supplemental supports our troops by providing almost $100 billion for Iraq, Afghanistan, and the global war on terror.

The supplemental bill also funds vital domestic priorities that have also become emergencies.  The bill includes a long-overdue increase in the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour, in response to the stalemate in Congress on this increase.  It also provides $750 million to cover an anticipated shortfall this year in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in 14 states.  Other positive provisions include $400 million for rural communities that have lost revenue due to declines in timber harvesting; $2.5 billion for Homeland Security programs; $1.4 billion for veterans' health accounts; $1.3 billion for rebuilding levees; and $1 billion for pandemic flu preparations.

 The emergency supplemental spending bill is a critically important first step towards extricating our country from a war that was launched under false pretenses and has produced tragic results.  It also contains vital federal support for key domestic priorities.  I therefore urge you to vote yes on H.R. 1591.

      Sincerely,
      GERALD W. McENTEE
      International President

 

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