"(Washington, DC) - Today Congresswoman Barbara Lee, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, sent a letter to the Speaker requesting that appropriate Committee Chairs quickly schedule oversight hearings regarding the recent Bush Signing Statement to circumvent a key provision in the Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 4986) against a permanent military presence in Iraq.

The letter, co-authored by Congresswomen Lee, Lynn Woolsey and Maxine Waters, states, “We believe that Congress must find out and the American public made aware of the serious consequences of long-term military basing agreements or treaties that bypass congressional action as the ‘Declaration of Principles’. In addition, it is critical to shed light on the implications of the President’s signing statement and intention to ignore the law. At the same time it is also imperative to give greater scrutiny to the Bush administration’s efforts to maintain a long-term or indefinite military presence in Iraq. Holding hearings will complement the 166 hearings on Iraq that Democrats have held since you became our speaker in January 2007.”

Congresswoman Lee issued the following statement:

“Circumventing this important provision is contrary to the law and oversight hearings are clearly needed for Congress to get answers and for the American public to be assured the law is not being side stepped.

“We need to know why President Bush wants to ignore a key provision he signaled he would uphold by signing the bill into law in the first place.

“This latest action by this Republican administration seems to flagrantly disregard the law of the land. The President has signed into law, five times, legislation that included similar provisions to prohibit permanent military bases in Iraq since 2006 (PL109-289, PL 109-364, PL 110-28, PL 110-116, and PL 110-161.). Now he arbitrarily wants an exemption from the provision in the FY08 Defense Authorization bill.

“We need answers and we need them now. Congress must immediately hold the Bush administration accountable.”"