Rooney Statement on Iraq Announcement
Friday, 21 October 2011 15:38
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney (FL-16) issued the following statement on President Obama’s announcement of the withdrawal of combat forces from Iraq:
“I stand with all Americans to thank our brave men and women in uniform for their service and sacrifice and that of their families. Iraq has a real chance at peace, thanks to our military and our allies, as long as the Administration stays engaged with the emerging democratic government there to ensure they know ours is a long-term partnership.
“As our troops return home, we must not forget their hard work and sacrifice. We have tremendous strides in recent years to improve health care services – particularly mental health – for troops and veterans, and to reduce veteran homelessness, but we still have significant work to do to ensure that those who serve receive the support and care they deserve. We must also help ensure that as our veterans enter a tough economy, they receive the training and assistance they need to find work and successfully transition to civilian life.”
Rooney visited Iraq in April, his second visit in the last three years, to see firsthand Iraq’s progress toward democracy and to discuss the country’s challenges and next steps with Iraqi leaders and senior military officials.
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