Tubbs Jones Votes Against War Funding, Supports Domestic Funding during
Supplemental Appropriations Vote
WASHINGTON, June 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rep. Tubbs Jones yesterday
opposed the amendment to the Supplemental Appropriations bill providing
emergency supplemental funding for Iraq. Rep. Tubbs Jones expressed concern
that the funding bill contained no significant restrictions on the spending,
which would fund the occupation in Iraq well into 2009.
"We cannot continue to give blank checks to this Administration for the Wars
in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Rep. Tubbs Jones. "While I wholeheartedly
support our troops, I feel it important that we have a plan for a timely
redeployment of our troops from Iraq and Afghanistan before we continue
funding what has become a seemingly endless war."
Rep. Tubbs Jones voted in favor of an amendment to the same Supplementary
Appropriations bill which included provisions to provide a 13 week extension
of unemployment benefits for those workers who are unable to find a job in
today's struggling economy and a landmark expansion of the GI Bill of Rights.
For the fifth straight month, the economy lost jobs and unemployment rose from
5.0% in April to 5.5% in May, with 49,000 jobs lost in May alone -- the
largest monthly spike in 22 years. The economy has lost nearly 325,000 jobs
this year and 1.6 million Americans have been unemployed more than six months,
despite looking for work.
More than 53,450 troops from Ohio have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.
Unfortunately, current benefits pay only about 70 percent of a public college
education and 30 percent of a private college education for these veterans
when they return home. The expanded GI Bill will restore full, four-year
college scholarships to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to help make
them part of an economic recovery like the veterans of World War II. The
legislation will also allow veterans to transfer those benefits to family
members.
"This legislation will provide much needed relief to American workers and
veterans to help them with rapidly rising gas and food costs," said Rep. Tubbs
Jones. "This much needed assistance is long overdue."
SOURCE Office of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones
Nicole Y. Williams of the Office of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones,
+1-202-225-7032
