Yesterday, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke supported key provisions and amendments to H.R. 4899, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010. The bill provides a myriad of critical emergency funding for disaster relief in Haiti, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as fully paid for investments to meet domestic needs, such as education jobs and Pell Grants. It also included funding for the war in Afghanistan.

Congresswoman Clarke voted three times against the war in Afghanistan. The first such vote, which failed, completely stripped all military funding from the supplemental. She also voted in support of the Lee amendment to cut off money for combat operations and immediately begin withdrawing troops. The third vote was for the McGovern-Obey-Jones Amendment—which would have provided Congress with a National Intelligence Estimate on Afghanistan that is current; a plan for the redeployment of U.S. troops that is consistent with the President’s announced policy of December 2009 to begin bringing our troops home next year; quarterly reports submitted to Congress on the President’s plan; and an expansion of oversight to deal with waste, fraud and abuse.

Rep. Clarke released the following statement:

“While I am grateful to the men and women who serve valiantly in our Armed Forces, both at home and abroad, I strongly oppose additional funding for the war in Afghanistan.My constituents and I can no longer bear to see more Americans die or remain in harm’s way, for this fruitless war. It has gone on long enough without a clear and sufficient exit strategy. The time is now to bring our troops home, stop the unnecessary spending and stabilize our economy.”