Statement from Rep. Johnson

Via email:

Today U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist.-Texas) released the following statement after Democrats voted against his bill to fully fund and support all troops in harm's way. The vote occurred as the House Appropriations Committee marked up the emergency troop spending bill, known as the supplemental.

Ranking Republican Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) offered the Johnson bill in the form of an amendment. In January Johnson introduced H.R. 511 to fully fund all troops in harm's way. Johnson's measure currently has 175 co-sponsors; the amendment failed 27-37.

In a related matter, the entire committee voted against stopping all war funding at once.

The Appropriations mark-up comes on the same day that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed confirmed he planned more than 30 terrorist attacks around the world, including the September 11th attack that killed thousands of innocent Americans.

A 29-year Air Force veteran, Johnson spent nearly seven years as a Prisoner of War, more than half of that time in solitary confinement.

"What do the Democrats have against guaranteeing money for body armor and bullets for our brave men and women in the armed forces? News reports on the troop escalation indicate that there is steady progress in Iraq . That must count for something.

"Frankly, micro-managing the war from a cushy committee room for all the troops serving on the front lines is absurd and infuriating. If folks really wanted to bring the troops home, they would support fully funding them so they can complete the mission and come back safely and soon.

"Isn't it ironic that on the very same day that we find out a maniacal fanatic confessed to plotting against and killing innocent Americans - the Democrats in Congress are emboldening radical Islamic terrorists by voting to hamstring our troops?

"Moms and dads want to know that Congress won't pull the plug on funding for the troops and leave their sons and daughters stranded in Iraq."