Peace Action West

Best

CONGRESS LED THE WAY IN STOPPING NEW NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

In 2007, the Bush administration tried to sneak in another new nuclear weapons program, labeling it the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) and marketing it as a way to make our stockpile more secure. Senators Feinstein (D-CA) and Dorgan (D-ND), and Representatives Visclosky (D-IN) and Hobson (R-OH), on the Senate and House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittees, recognized the dangers of building a new nuclear warhead and zeroed out the funding completely. Sen. Feinstein played a key role by offering S. 1914, a bill that would prohibit funding for RRW until at least 2010 and require a comprehensive review of US nuclear policy. This victory puts us in a strong position to work toward a nuclear weapons free world.

MORE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VOTED IN FAVOR OF WITHDRAWING U.S. TROOPS FROM IRAQ THAN EVER BEFORE.

When the new Congress did not bring about an end to the war in Iraq, many people became understandably frustrated. It was easy to forget how far we’d been able to push Congress since the war in Iraq began. Back in 2005, an amendment calling for President Bush to submit a plan for troop withdrawal was defeated 128-300. By 2007, the House passed three separate bills calling for a withdrawal of US troops on a timeline, and the Senate consistently had majorities voting in favor of withdrawal. Much of the credit for this progress belongs to strong antiwar leaders in Congress such as Reps. Lee (D-CA), Woolsey (D-CA) and Waters (D-CA) and Sen. Feingold (D-WI), who have worked tirelessly to keep this issue at the forefront of the congressional debate.

CONGRESS TOOK ACTION TO PROTECT CIVILIANS FROM CLUSTER BOMBS AND PREVENT THE USE OF CHILD SOLDIERS.

Cluster bombs are indiscriminate weapons that rain “bomblets” over wide areas. Often these bomblets do not explode and become like landmines in civilian areas. Sen. Feinstein (D-CA) and Rep. McGovern (D-MA) took the lead in Congress by offering bills that would put restrictions on the use and sale of cluster bombs. These bills helped build momentum for provisions in the omnibus spending bill that prohibit exports of cluster bombs with a higher than 1% failure rate. In another critical win for human rights, Congress took a stand against the recruitment and use of child soldiers in battle. Sen. Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. Marshall (D-GA) sponsored bills prohibiting any US military aid to countries that use child soldiers. The omnibus bill was passed in December with a provision prohibiting military aid, equipment or technology for countries the State Department has identified as users of child soldiers.

Worst

CONGRESS CAVED TO PRESSURE FROM THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION AND FUNDED THE OCCUPATION IN IRAQ WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS.

One way that Congress controls policy is through the power of the purse. Peace Action mobilized thousands of citizens to urge congressional leadership to stay strong in the face of bullying from the Bush administration and refuse to give funds unless they would be used to withdraw troops.
 
Congress had two opportunities to tie funding to a timeline with the supplemental funding requests in the spring and the fall.  President Bush engaged in a game of chicken with Congress, using vetoes and threats of derailing the budget process to push Congress to give him funding without requiring a change in policy. Congress made a statement by passing funding bills with timelines, but ultimately fell prey to accusations of not supporting the troops, and they passed supplemental funding with no strings attached.
 
While congressional leadership brought about progress on Iraq in 2007, they ultimately failed to leverage overwhelming and broad-based grassroots support for withdrawal to enact an effective plan to end the occupation.

CONGRESS FAILED TO REIN IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION ON IRAN AND PROMOTE PRODUCTIVE DIPLOMACY.

Amidst concern about the Bush administration’s saber-rattling and hostile rhetoric toward Iran, several members of Congress, including Reps. DeFazio (D-OR), Lee (D-CA), Udall (D-CO) and Sen.Webb (D-VA) introduced various bills emphasizing that Bush needed to consult Congress prior to pursuing military action against Iran. Both Rep. DeFazio and Rep. Andrews (D-NJ) offered amendments prohibiting military action against Iran without congressional authorization (see scorecard grid). A majority of House members voted against the amendments, undermining the message that Congress needs to have better oversight of an administration that has proven untrustworthy on foreign policy issues.
 
On the Senate side, Sen. Lieberman (I-CT) and Sen. Kyl (R-AZ) offered a provocative amendment encouraging punitive measures against Iran. They included antagonistic measures such as recommending that the US designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, an official branch of Iran’s military, as a terrorist group. The Senate voted overwhelmingly to pass the amendment, which Sen. Webb labeled “Dick Cheney’s fondest pipe dream,” and that many believed was granting the Bush administration leeway in pursuing military action against Iran.