Washington -U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today voted in favor of the Fenigold-Reid amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations bill that would transition the troops out of Iraq and stop funding for the war by June 20, 2008, with certain specific exceptions.

Sen. Menendez released the following statement:

"Giving the president a blank check for a stay-the-course plan that has cost lives and weakened our security is unacceptable. The president's policy would have this war continue endlessly and it offers no light at the end of the tunnel for 130,000 Americans stuck in the crossfire. The Iraqi security forces and government will not take control of their country until they actually believe we won't be there forever. I will continue to stand up for a change of course in Iraq until we can bring our troops home."

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