Message From US Representative Ben Ray Lujan

[CodeManBob]

Fri, February 4, 2011 3:30:05 PM
Message From Congressman Ben Ray Lujan

To: robert....@att.net

Dear Mr. Stearns,

Thank you for contacting my office in Washington, D.C. Discussing
critical issues with my constituents is very important to me.
Reaching peaceful and prompt resolutions to our engagements in
Afghanistan and Iraq are extremely important to me. I strongly believe
that we must support our brave men and women in combat and that
bringing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to an end will improve our
national security and bring needed stability to those nations.
On April 14, 2010, I joined Rep. James McGovern to introduce H.R.
5015 to require the President to plan for the safe, orderly, and
expeditious redeployment of United States Armed Forces from
Afghanistan. This legislation would have provided the military with
time to draft and execute an exit strategy from the Afghan conflict
and provide updates to Congress. Unfortunately, this legislation did
not reach the House floor for a vote in the 111th Congress.
I continue to be an advocate for an end to the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan. In August of 2009, I traveled to Afghanistan and met with
several U.S. and Afghan officials to discuss how we can successfully
bring our troops home. The following September, fifty-seven of my
colleagues and I wrote to President Obama urging him to reject further
troop increases. My time abroad has shed light on the fact that the
Afghan people must take responsibility for their nation and respond to
government corruption without continued American engagement. However,
while we must act towards a withdrawal, we must also maintain the
safety and security of our soldiers.
Once again, thank you for expressing your opinion on this matter.
Please feel free to contact any of my offices if I can assist you in
any way. I am very interested in your opinions and your concerns. To
find more information regarding current legislation, services I can
offer, or ways my office can be helpful to you, please visit my
website at: www.lujan.house.gov.

Sincerely,
Rep. Ben Ray Luján
United States House of Representatives