Pelosi Statement on the McGovern-Obey-Jones Amendment

Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami/Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement on her vote in support of a bipartisan amendment sponsored by Congressman Jim McGovern, Chairman David Obey and Congressman Walter Jones. The amendment would have provided Congress with the most up-to-date information on Afghanistan, but was not adopted by the House as part of the FY2010 Supplemental Appropriations bill.

"I supported the McGovern-Obey-Jones amendment because it would have provided Congress with a National Intelligence Estimate on Afghanistan that is current; a plan for the redeployment of U.S. troops that is consistent with the President's announced policy of December 2009 to begin bringing our troops home next year; quarterly reports submitted to Congress on the President's plan; and an expansion of oversight to deal with waste, fraud and abuse.

"The amendment would not have limited our military's efforts to attack Al Qaeda, gather or share intelligence with our allies in the region or change military strategy on the ground during the period of redeployment.

"Our men and women in uniform continue to perform heroically in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the world, and it is critical that Congress has the most up-to-date information as we debate policies that impact our soldiers, their families and our national security."