WASHINGTON, DC –U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Bob Corker (R-TN) today applauded the Senate passage of their bipartisan resolution urging other nations, especially Iraq’s neighbors, to carry through on earlier pledges to fund Iraq’s reconstruction activities. The United States has already spent approximately $18.5 billion on reconstruction activities and has authorized another $5.5 billion for additional reconstruction assistance.
“It is not right that the United States, which has sacrificed so many bright young men and women in Iraq, should also be bearing the lion’s share of the burden when it comes to funding reconstruction assistance for Iraq,” said Casey. “I am pleased to have worked with Senator Corker on this important issue and that the Senate recognized the urgent need for the international community, especially Iraq’s neighbors, to fulfill their obligation and help pitch in for Iraq’s reconstruction.”
“I was proud to join Senator Casey in this effort to urge the full investment of funds that have been pledged to Iraq so the nation will be capable of supporting its own needs sooner. A stable and successful Iraq is in the best interest of the broader Middle East and the international community as a whole, but Iraq's neighbors - who obviously have much at stake - are not fully honoring their obligations. They need to step up and honor the commitments they've made,” said Corker.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), in December, and the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, in January, both released reports stating that Iraq’s neighbors and other key international partners are not holding up their end of the bargain when it comes to carrying through on pledges of economic reconstruction assistance to Iraq. Since 2003, international donors have pledged more than $16 billion in assistance for reconstruction activities in Iraq, but have only disbursed less than half that amount.
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“It is not right that the United States, which has sacrificed so many bright young men and women in Iraq, should also be bearing the lion’s share of the burden when it comes to funding reconstruction assistance for Iraq,” said Casey. “I am pleased to have worked with Senator Corker on this important issue and that the Senate recognized the urgent need for the international community, especially Iraq’s neighbors, to fulfill their obligation and help pitch in for Iraq’s reconstruction.”
“I was proud to join Senator Casey in this effort to urge the full investment of funds that have been pledged to Iraq so the nation will be capable of supporting its own needs sooner. A stable and successful Iraq is in the best interest of the broader Middle East and the international community as a whole, but Iraq's neighbors - who obviously have much at stake - are not fully honoring their obligations. They need to step up and honor the commitments they've made,” said Corker.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), in December, and the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, in January, both released reports stating that Iraq’s neighbors and other key international partners are not holding up their end of the bargain when it comes to carrying through on pledges of economic reconstruction assistance to Iraq. Since 2003, international donors have pledged more than $16 billion in assistance for reconstruction activities in Iraq, but have only disbursed less than half that amount.
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