A delegation to testify before House committee, then meet with Kerry

[ProSense]

Military Wife Opposing War in Iraq to Testify Before House Appropriations Subcommittee

2/27/2006 4:36:00 PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor

Contact: Ryan Fletcher, 202-641-0277, Nancy Lessin, 617-320-5301, both for Military Families Speak Out

News Advisory:

On Wednesday, March 1, Stacy Bannerman, wife of a National Guard soldier who returned from Iraq, will testify in front of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs. She will be joined at the hearing by Tia Steele, the stepmother of a soldier who was killed in Iraq, Garett Reppenhagen, an Iraq War veteran, and Elizabeth Frederick whose partner recently returned from Iraq, who have submitted written testimony.

WHO: Military Families, and an Iraq War Veteran testifying before members of Congress

WHAT: House Appropriations Subcommitte on Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs

WHEN: Wednesday, March 1 at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: United States Capitol Room H143

This testimony by Military Families and an Iraq war Veteran comes just weeks before the 3rd anniversary of the Iraq war. As the violence in Iraq continues and escalates, Military Families Speak Out and Iraq Veterans Against the War will ask members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee, "How many more deaths and physical and psychological wounds must our loved ones and the people of Iraq suffer before you act decisively to end a war that you should never have allowed to start?"

Stacy Bannerman, a member of the Advisory Board of Military Families Speak Out, explains the purpose of her testimony, "My testimony will remind the Subcommittee that it was Congress that gave the Bush Administration a 'blank check' to fund this war based on lies. The best way for Congress to support our troops and their families is to stop funding for the war immediately. Not one more dime, not one more life."

Garett Reppenhagen, a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, paints a chilling picture in his written testimony of the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that returning Veterans are suffering and sometimes dying from. Tia Steele, a member of Gold Star Families Speak Out, details in her written testimony the insult added to heartbreaking injury that Gold Star families have had to endure when they have not received truthful information about the circumstances that took the lives of loved ones in Iraq. Elizabeth Frederick, a member of Military Families Speak Out, highlights in her testimony the lack of supplies, equipment and leadership experienced by service men and women in the Iraq war zone and the impact this has on our troops and their families.

Following the House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, the delegation will meet with House Armed Services Committee staff, Senator John Kerry, and Congressman Jim McGovern. Stacy Bannerman, and the other members of the delegation will be available for interview before and after the hearing.

For a copy of the testimony or to arrange an interview contact Ryan Fletcher at 202-641-0277.

For further information on Military Families Speak Out, go to: http://www.mfso.org

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=61555

[TayTay]

1. Oooooh, fascinating.

This is just right, just right indeed.

Thank you so much for posting this. Hmmmmm, many tea leaves to read lately. Many, many tea leaves.

[karynnj]

2. Echoes of 1971

[TayTay]

3. And the approach to who truly is suffering from this war

the soldiers, their families and their communities. This is the strangest damn war ever. We are told to be afraid all the time, that we have to sacrifice liberties and personal privacy because the threat from the terrorists dwarfs silly concerns about human liberty.

Yet, where is this war in America? Who is fighting it? Who is sacrificing to send people over there? Where are the calls for ordinary Americans to do something to support this effort. This brain-dead Admin talks and talks and talks about 'the war' but does it's level best to ignore it at the same time.

I am so glad that Sen. Kerry will be meeting with the people who are actually involved in this, the people who have lost loved ones to this war and the people who will deal with the direct consequences of this war for the rest of their lives. He should be there. (Shit, someone needs to be there, ferchrisakes.) I want to see him focus on this and focus on the people involved. That is good politics, good grassroots involvement and IMHO, good for the soul. (He is being true to his own best self. After all, he does know this terrain very well.)

[ProSense]

4. I think this tragic war

will finally shed light on the warmongerers and their twisted agenda. Same group:

Presidential assistant Donald Rumsfeld, right, and his deputy Richard Cheney meet with reporters at the White House in Washington, D.C., Thursday, Nov. 7, 1975.

[karynnj]

5. Cheney's face was settling into the familiar sneer even then

he is a very bad man.

[FreedomAngel82]

8. Think so?

If so I hope it sounds promising.

[TayTay]

6. This is really good news.

I wonder if we will get a press release or statement on this meeting.

[babylonsister]

7. Any chance of CSPAN covering this? We could drop some

emails...:shrug:

[email protected]

[TayTay]

9. OMG! The testimony from the MFSO families is up

at their website: http://www.mfso.org/article.php?list=type&type=5

I can't watch the hearing, it will make me cry and I am at work. This is just unbelievably awful. I pray for the families of our troops every day.

I know that Sen. Kerry was scheduled to mee twith these good folks after the testimony on Wed. Does anyone know if this meeting occurred. (Scheduling conflicts come up all the time.) I would love to know if this meeting happened. (Maybe it was off-the-record, but that seems unlikely with such a vocal group. I can't see them not going public with what was said with a Senator.)

Anyway, read these, but keep the tissues handy.

[ProSense]

10. Thanks for the links.

I'll have to read them later. I would also like to know if the Kerry meeting happened (and the outcome).