Washington DC – June 13, 2013 – News Release – The Council for a Livable World applauds the House of Representatives for the passage of the McGovern-Jones-Smith amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA.) The amendment was sponsored by Reps. Jim McGovern (D-MA,) Walter Jones (R-NC,) Adam Smith (D-WA,) Barbara Lee (D-CA,) and John Garamendi (D-CA.)
“After more than a decade of war and billions of dollars, Congress has finally decided to end the war,� said John Isaacs, executive director of Council for a Livable World. “For the first time, a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives supports an accelerated removal of American troops from Afghanistan by 2014.�
Last November, the Senate took a similar position when it approved an amendment offered by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) also urging an exit from Afghanistan by a bi-partisan vote of 62-33.
“We applaud the efforts of Representatives McGovern, Jones, Smith, Lee and Garamendi in steering the amendment to passage,� added Isaacs.
The amendment strikes language from the committee version of the bill that supported a continued U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014. The amendment also urged a vote of Congress if troops are to remain in Afghanistan beyond 2014.
“Over 60,000 American troops remain in Afghanistan, this amendment will help bring them home – for good,� said Isaacs.
The War in Afghanistan has been America’s longest war. It has lasted more than eleven years and cost 2,000 American lives and nearly $600 billion.
The amendment was endorsed from the floor by Representatives Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Rich Nugent (R-FL) Armed Services Committeeman Chairman Howard Buck McKeon (R-PA) said that he would not oppose the amendment. “The views of Chairman McKeon certainly helped shepherd the amendment to passage,� added Isaacs.
The amendment was adopted with 305 votes, including a majority of House Republicans.
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Council for a Livable World is a non-partisan advocacy organization dedicated to increasing national security, particularly through reducing of the danger of nuclear weapons proliferation. The Council advocates for a strong and sensible national security policy and helps elect congressional candidates supporting those ideals.