Washington - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today voted in favor of H.R. 1591, the Supplemental Appropriations bill that calls for a withdrawal of American troops from Iraq by March 31, 2008. The bill was approved by the Senate 51-47.

"The passage of this historic bill for the first time officially puts the Senate on the record in favor of getting our troops out of Iraq," said Menendez. "The wheels are now turning toward an end of our involvement in Iraq, which is the main goal. As a Member of Congress who voted against the original authorization to go to war and as one of 13 Senators who voted last year to withdraw from Iraq, I am pleased that a majority of my colleagues have now expressed their desire to bring our troops home.

"The terribly misguided and mismanaged war in Iraq cannot be allowed to go on indefinitely, as the president's policies would allow. This bill supports the troops, both by making sure they are equipped and prepared to defend themselves and by moving to get them out of another country's civil war."

Menendez also strongly supported other provisions of the bill, including:

"Veterans health care -- more than $4.3 billion to ensure returning troops receive the health care they have earned with their service.

"Children's health care -- emergency funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) totals more than $745 million. There are currently 500,000 children covered under NJ's S-CHIP program -- FamilyCare -- and without this funding their health coverage could be taken away.

"Chemical security -- includes a provision, introduced by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and backed by Sen. Menendez, that would prohibit the federal government from pre-empting stronger state chemical security regulations.

"Homeland security -- a total of $2 billion, including funds for port security and mass transit security, for explosives detection equipment at airports, and for several initiatives in the 9/11 bill that recently passed the Senate.

"Passaic River clean-up -- restores $50 million for the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a river clean-up project (the money was in line to be deleted by the Administration).

"Hurricane Katrina recovery -- $6.7 billion for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.

"This bill will also advance vital programs to improve the health and safety of our country and the state of New Jersey," said Menendez.

"I have championed the S-CHIP program and have been a leader in the Senate fighting against Republican attempts to cut it. Continued support for the program is critical to avert a health care crisis for children in low-income families. New Jersey's successful FamilyCare program, for instance, provides much-needed health coverage to low-income families and 500,000 children across the state, but it would be in jeopardy without federal support. I am proud that the provisions I have fought for -- which protect, instead of reduce, current health coverage -- were included in the bill the Senate passed today.

"Today, we have also acted to address deficiencies in the health care system for our troops, which were exposed by the shocking Walter Reed scandal. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security wants to supersede tougher chemical security regulations in states like New Jersey, but we have turned back that plan. On that point, I want to commend my friend and colleague, Senator Lautenberg, for helping ensure that the citizens of New Jersey will not have to worry about our chemical protections being weakened."

"The President has threatened to veto this bill, but I call on him to stop these threats and sign this important legislation into law."

###