Additional information: find an article on Truthout summarizing Congressional action on the war funding bill here.

On June 19, the House passed a bill to continue funding the occupation of Iraq with a vote of 268-155.  This is the most NO votes on Iraq funding since the war began.  Click here for roll call vote.

The funding measure was part of an unusual procedural manauver and backroom dealmaking to ensure that it would pass. This was the second time the House voted on Iraq funding in a little over a month.  In May the House defeated the war funding measure because many pro-war legislators voted 'present'.  Here are the roll call votes for that series of amendments:

On the Iraq war policies amendment: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll329.xml.
On the domestic programs amendment: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll330.xml
On the $166 billion Iraq war funding amendment: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll328.xml

Senate action on War Funding Bill

The Senate voted on May 22 to extend the war and occupation of Iraq beyond Memorial Day 2009.  As in the House, the Senate voted on three separate amendments, but the outcome was different in the Senate: 

The first vote produced a surprise outcome.  It was an amendment approving billions in funding for a broad array of domestic programs including increases in GI education funding, extension of unemployment benefits, levee construction in New Orleans and a plethora of other good works.  The amendment passed on a vote of 75-22.  Click here for roll call vote  

The second vote was on Iraq war policies including a withdrawal timeline, troop readiness requirements, no permanent bases and no toture.  This amendment failed on a vote of 34-63.  Click here for roll call vote  

The final vote was on the $165.4 billion to fund the wars/occupations of Iraq and Afganistan through next summer. This amendment passed on a vote of 70-26.  Click here for roll call vote 

Resources for leafleting or meeting with members of Congress:
Why we're against the war from Iraq Vets Against the War:

Demands for your representative.

Iraq Quiz

Local Cost of War info from National Priorities Project

Talking points for grassroots lobbyists from Peace Action

Open letter to Congress from Military Families Speak Out

Healing the Wounds of War from AFSC

Check out recent Legislative Alerts and Updates.

Info & Resources

• Find a list of demands for your senator and for your representative.
• Ask your rep. to sign the letter to Bush vowing not to give him funding for the war (but only to safely get our troops out of Iraq). See the letter and current signers.
• Ask your rep. to call for congressional hearings on Iran, with witnesses under oath. More information here.
• Find out how your rep. and senators have voted on key Iraq/Iran votes.
• Click here for additional talking points.
• Activists are concerned about H.R. 1955, "The Violent Radicalization & Homegrown Terrorism Act." Click here for more info.
• Click here for "The War as We Saw It" Op-ed piece.
• Click here for costs of the Iraq war to your state/congressional district from the National Priorities Project.
• Create a flyer highlighting your rep. or senators voting record on the war. See a sample flyer here.

Resources and Ideas for Action:great ideas & resources from local groups around the country

Be a Part of the Action:
Join the UFPJ Legislative Action Network
Be a part of our national campaign to keep the pressure on Congress –- receive updates, legislative alerts and invitations to participate in monthly conference calls and briefings. Register now to become a member of UFPJ’s Legislative Action Network.

Iraq:Congress will take up Bush's request for another $120 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the spring of 2008. In the meantime, the House has been voting, and will continue to vote on various measures on Iraq that sidestep the issue of a troop withdrawal, but which may tackle other important issues. These measures may come up with little warning, so  sign up here to receive regular updates.

UFPJ's legislative priority is to pressure Congress to use its "power of the purse" to force an end to the occupation. Congress has the power to deny Bush funding for the war, or to restrict the funding to the safe and orderly withdrawal of all troops and military contractors. 

House: Ask your representative to sign a bi-partisan letter to President Bush pledging to deny funds to continue the war, and to vote only to fully fund the safe and orderly withdrawal of U.S. troops. The text of the letter and current list of signers is here. Although the letter is addressed to Bush, it is aimed at Pelosi, to force her to allow votes on strong anti-war measures. Find a sample flyer to get people in your community calling your representative about the letter here.

Senate: Ask your Senator to support amendments to the FY08 Iraq Supplemental Funding Bill that will require the rapid and safe withdrawal of all troops and military contractors, and that stipulate a rapid timeline for the removal of all troops from Iraq. Vote to appropriate funds only to safely and rapidly withdraw all U.S. troops and military contractors from Iraq.

Iran:The Bush administration has escalated the rhetoric and taken provocative actions against Iran lately. Members of Congress must speak out against the march to war and question the veracity of all statements coming out of the administration.

House: Ask your representative to:

• Demand hearings under oath on Iran. Rep. DeFazio recently sent a letter to the Armed Services Committee asking for hearings -- it is a good model. Click here for the letter.
• Co-sponsor H.R.770: (Lee, CA-9) to prohibit the use of funds to carry out any covert action for the purpose of causing regime change in Iran or to carry out any military action against Iran in the absence of an imminent threat, in accordance with international law and constitutional and statutory requirements for congressional authorization.

Senate: Ask your senator to co-sponsor S.759: (Webb) to prohibit the use of funds for military operations in Iran.

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