Regula Votes Against Troops, Again

On August 2, 2007, the United States House of Representatives passed the Ensuring Military Readiness Through Stability and Predictability Deployment Policy Act by a 229 to 194. This bill was summarized by the Congressional Research Service as follows:

Prohibits units and members of the regular Armed Forces from being deployed for Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom (including participation in the NATO International Security Assistance Force (Afghanistan)) unless the period between deployments is equal to or longer than the period of the previous deployment. Expresses the sense of Congress that the optimal minimum period between such deployments should be equal to or longer than twice the period of the previous deployment.

Prohibits units and members of the reserves from being deployed for such Operations (including such NATO participation) if the unit or member has been deployed within three preceding years. Expresses the sense of Congress that units and members of the reserves should not be mobilized continuously for more than one year, and that the optimal minimum period between such deployments should be five years.

Authorizes the: (1) President to waive such limitations after certifying to Congress that the deployment is necessary to meet an operational emergency posing a threat to vital national security interests; or (2) chief of staff of the military department concerned (including the Coast Guard) to waive such limitations with respect to a member who has voluntarily requested mobilization.

This bill would prevent the Bush Administration from extending the tours of duty for military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Bush Administration went from a policy of tours of duty for members of the American Army in Iraq being 12 months to 15 months. The administration has also been continuously calling up reserve units and redeploying them into Iraq. Both policies are causing hardship to the families of such soldiers, not to mention exposing them to more danger.

Representative Regula voted against this Act. Keep that in mind if he runs for re-election.