Matsui Statement on End of War in Iraq

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 15, 2011

CONTACT: ALANA JUTEAU
(202) 225-7163

Matsui Statement on End of War in Iraq

Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) issued the below statement following the official end of the Iraq War today. All U.S. troops in Iraq will return home by December 31st.

Under President Obama's leadership, we have made great strides in our overseas conflicts, and have brought a definitive close to the war in Iraq. After nearly nine years, I am pleased to see this war end, and commend the President for finally bringing our troops home.

The Iraq war has come at a staggering cost to our country, both in terms of dollars spent and lives lost. Over one million of our brave men and women have served in Iraq throughout this decade of conflict, and we have tragically lost nearly 4,500 service members during that time including 478 of California's own.

I thank all of our troops for their bravery and dedication to our country. The sacrifices of our troops and their families will never be forgotten.

As our service members return home, we must ensure that they have the support they need physically, mentally, and financially to move forward in their lives. We need to see to it that our veterans are able to compete for and secure jobs after they leave the armed forces; we owe that to them.

And with the end of the war, we will be able to better focus on the many pressing domestic priorities we face. It is time to invest in America again so that we can strengthen the middle class, create jobs, and make our veterans proud of the country for which they have sacrificed so much.

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