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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The president of the United States has proposed an |
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escalation in the number of American troops deployed in Iraq; and |
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WHEREAS, Our troops in Iraq have valiantly upheld their duty |
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under dire circumstances, and United States involvement in that |
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country has resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 U.S. soldiers |
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and the wounding and disabling of more than 22,000 U.S. military |
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personnel to date; and |
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WHEREAS, This proposed escalation will further extend |
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National Guard tours in Iraq, at a time when the costs to the states |
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of the call-up of National Guard members for deployment in Iraq have |
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been significant, as reckoned in lost lives, combat injuries and |
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psychic trauma, disruption of family life, financial hardship for |
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individuals, families, and businesses, interruption of careers, |
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and damage to the fabric of civic life in our communities; and |
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WHEREAS, More than $357 billion has been appropriated by |
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Congress to fund military operations and reconstruction in Iraq to |
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date, money that could fund desperately needed education, health |
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care, housing, nutrition, and other social services in our |
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communities in the United States or humanitarian assistance abroad; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Previous budgets that have prioritized Iraq have led |
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to cuts in critical block grants for states and have increased the |
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federal debt, which, compounded by interest payments, will likely |
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lead to even larger cuts in funding for critical needs in the |
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states; and |
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WHEREAS, Polls show that the vast majority of Americans do |
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not support increasing the number of troops in Iraq; most military |
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experts oppose escalation in Iraq, and press reports indicate that |
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even the Joint Chiefs of Staff have opposed such a strategy; and |
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WHEREAS, Legal experts on all sides have determined that |
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Congress has not only broad authority, but a long tradition of |
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limiting escalation or forcing redeployment of troops through the |
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constitutionally designated power of the purse; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas, on |
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behalf of the citizens of Texas, respectfully urge that, in a period |
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when the Iraq Study Group, leading military and diplomatic |
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officials, and allies around the world are calling for a reduction |
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in troops and withdrawal of the United States from Iraq, the United |
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States government not escalate its involvement in Iraq or increase |
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troop levels; or that, at a minimum, the president obtain explicit |
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approval from Congress to send more American troops to Iraq; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That the United States Congress be urged to pass |
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legislation prohibiting the president from spending taxpayer |
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dollars on an escalation in Iraq unless he first seeks |
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congressional approval; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official |
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copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to |
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the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the |
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senate of the United States Congress, and to all members of the |
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Texas delegation to the Congress with the request that this |
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resolution be entered officially in the Congressional Record as a |
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memorial to the Congress of the United States of America. |