Thursday, May 10, 2007 Contact: Sean Oblack (202) 225-4176 Schiff Votes to Begin Withdrawal of Combat Forces From Iraq Measure calls for withdrawal of combat troops not needed for training or counter-terrorism operations to be completed within 9 months Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Adam Schiff voted in favor of a bill (H.R. 2237) that would end America's combat presence in Iraq and move to a containment strategy.  The measure would require the withdrawal of combat forces from Iraq to begin within 90 days of enactment and be completed 180 days thereafter.  The bill explicitly provides for the continued presence of U.S. military personnel to safeguard U.S. diplomats, to continue training Iraqi troops and for targeted operations against al Qaeda and other terrorists.  The bill was sponsored by Rep. Jim McGovern, (D-MA) and was voted down by a vote of 171-255. Following the vote, Rep. Schiff stated, “While the Iraqi government dithers -- on reconciliation, division of oil revenues, reforming de-Baathification, and a hundred other matters -- American troops are dying.  We did not intend to become policemen in an Iraqi civil war, but that is tragically what we have become.  It is time to move to a containment and counter-terrorism strategy in Iraq, and this bill sends a strong message that a major change of course is overdue.”   Rep. Schiff was recently appointed to serve on the House Appropriations Committee in the 110th Congress and is a member of its Commerce, Justice, and Science Subcommittee, the State Department and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, and the Select Intelligence Oversight Panel.  He also serves on the House Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on the Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property. He represents California’s 29th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City. -30-