McGovern (D-MA)-Jones (R-NC) bill
Importance of this measure:
This is the first truly bi-partisan measure in the House of Representatives that go beyond the usual “anti-Afghan war suspects.” It is important to break into the new Republican freshmen caucus and this letter does that.
Kudos to Representatives Jim McGovern and Walter Jones for their effort, which will help swell the political opposition to the war.
Purpose of the bill:
1) Require the President to transmit to Congress a plan with timeframe and completion date on the transition of U.S. military and security operations in Afghanistan to the Government of Afghanistan;
2) Require the President to report quarterly (i.e. every 90 days) on the status of that transition, and the human and financial costs of remaining in Afghanistan, including increased deficit and public debt; and
3) Included in those quarterly reports, the President must disclose to Congress the savings in 5-year, 10-year and 20-year time periods were the U.S. to accelerate redeployment and conclude the transition of all U.S. military and security operations to Afghanistan within 180 days (i.e. 6 months).
Original co-sponsors:
Democrats:
Reps. Jim McGovern (MA) – Rules Committee
Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) –Armed Services Committee – Ranking Member/Strategic Forces SC
Dave Loebsack (IA) –Armed Services Committee
John Garamendi (CA) –Armed Services Committee
John Lewis (GA) – Chief Deputy Whip
David Ciciline (RI) – Freshman Class; Foreign Affairs
Louise Slaughter (NY) – Ranking Member/House Rules Committee
Peter Welch (VT) – Oversight and Government Reform/Natl. Security SC
Jim Moran (VA) – Appropriations Comm/Chairman/Interior SC; Member of Defense SC
Republicans:
Walter B. Jones (NC) –Armed Services Committee
Jason Chaffetz (UT) – Chairman/Natl. Sec. SC/Oversight & Govt. Reform
Ron Paul (TX) – Foreign Affairs; Presidential Candidate
Jimmy Duncan (TN) – Transportation & Infrastructure; Natural Resources
Tim Johnson (IL) — Transportation & Infrastructure; Agriculture
Justin Amash (MI) – Freshman Class; Oversight & Govt. Reform
Roscoe G. Bartlett (MD) –Armed Services Committee – Chairman/Air & Land Forces SC
