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| Friday, July 13, 2007 |
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| Congressman Clay’s Capitol Hill Report |
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| By Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay Member of Congress |
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On Thursday, the House passed the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act, which I supported. As most of you know, I have opposed this tragic and unnecessary war from the beginning. The act calls on the President to begin the orderly withdrawal and redeployment of US troops from Iraq within 120 days, with all major forces to be withdrawn by April 1, 2008. A handful of Republicans in the House and the Senate have broken with President Bush’s failed policy and listened to the will of the American people. We expect Senate action on similar legislation next week. And I can only hope that the President will finally face reality, take responsibility for his policy failures, and bring our troops home. I’m also pleased to report that the House passed two bills which I cosponsored this week. The College Cost Reduction Act will make higher education more affordable. And the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act will help landlord and tenants, and make the dream of home ownership possible for more low-income families. -Lacy Iraq Redeployment Act Would Begin Withdrawal in 120 Days Last night, the House voted to compel the President to begin the orderly withdrawal of US troops from Iraq in 120 days. We also received two disturbing reports which indicate that the Bush policy is failing in Iraq and distracting us from the very real war on terror. The interim Iraq Assessment Report on key benchmarks established to measure developments in Iraq shows very little progress. And most critically, the Washington Post reported that the new National Intelligence Estimate projects that while the U.S. has been distracted in Iraq, Al Qaeda has reorganized and is as strong today as it was prior to the 9-11 attacks. That confirms what I have been saying for over four years, the war in Iraq is making us less safe. And the longer we stay there, the more vulnerable we will be. I want to share the words of my friend and colleague, Congressman Ike Skelton of Missouri, who chairs the Armed Services Committee. During this week’s floor debate, he said, "A change in course in Iraq is overdue. We must begin the responsible redeployment of our forces from Iraq. The strength of the American military depends on its readiness which is currently depleted after four years in the middle of a deteriorating sectarian conflict. Our military must transition to a limited presence that protects enduring American interests and restores the readiness of our forces." In 2002, I warned the President that the invasion and occupation of Iraq would degrade our military strength, weaken our standing in the world, embolden our real enemies, and leave the United States more vulnerable than before. Sadly, all of those predictions have come true. The Bush policy in Iraq has cost the lives of over 3,600 brave Americans, with over 26,000 wounded. And it has cost U.S. taxpayers over half a trillion dollars. This failed policy will rank as one of the greatest strategic mistakes ever made by a U.S. President. Our brave troops have done all we can do in Iraq. It’s time to bring them home. College Cost Reduction Act Cuts Loan Rates, Boosts Pell Grants, The bill, which I was proud to cosponsor by passed with a strong bipartisan margin of 273 – 149. This is the largest single boost in college financial aid since the 1944’ GI Bill. It will make college more affordable for middle class and low income families and we will achieve that at no new cost to the taxpayers. The bill will increase college financial aid by about $18 billion over the next five years. It pays for itself by reducing excessive federal subsidies paid to lenders in the college loan industry by $19 billion. One of the most important elements of this bill is a significant increase in Pell Grants, something that I have fought hard for since I first came to Congress. Over the next five years, the maximum value of the Pell Grant scholarship would increase by $500. When combined with other Pell scholarship increases passed or proposed by Congress earlier this year, the maximum Pell Grant would reach $4,900 in 2008 and $5,200 in 2011, up from $4,050 in 2006. That will help about 6 million low and moderate-income students. My bill will also cut interest rates in half on need-based student loans. Like legislation passed by the House earlier this year, the act would cut interest rates from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent in equal steps over the next five years. Once fully phased-in, this would save the typical student borrower – with $13,800 in need-based student loan debt – $4,400 over the life of the loan. About 6.8 million students take out need-based loans each year. The bill also provides $500 million in support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and other institutions of higher learning that serve large minority populations. The grants will help these historic institutions attract top faculty and retain and graduate more students.
On Thursday night, the House passed a very important bill which I cosponsored on the Housing Subcommittee of the full Financial Services Committee, H.R. 1851, the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2007. This bipartisan measure will make Section 8 vouchers more efficient by targeted them précised on those families who truly need help. The act expands the number of families receiving housing vouchers. And it also extends new help to the rural poor who are also in need of housing assistance. As you know, increasing home ownership is one of my top priorities in Congress. And for the very first time, this bill permits families to use housing vouchers as a down payment on a first-time home purchase, and includes other provisions to encourage family self-sufficiency, including incentives for families to obtain employment, increase their earned income, pursue higher education, and save for their retirement. Every American family deserves a safe place to call home. And this bill is a good step towards making that possible. Media contact is Steven Engelhardt, @ 314.383.5240(office), 314.504.4029 (cell) or at steven.engelhardt)@mail.house.gov # # |
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