WASHINGTON, D.C. June 26, 2009 – Below is a statement from Rep. Calvert on his vote against the Fiscal Year 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I strongly support our troops and their missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world and my 17 year record in Congress demonstrates my support of our military. I voted for the original version of the bill, H.R. 2346, which provided emergency funding for our troops. I was disappointed that Speaker Pelosi allowed at the last minute unrelated funding to be added to the Supplemental Appropriations bill, which made it impossible to support.

"Specifically, $5 billion in funding for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was air-dropped into the bill. The $5 billion will be used to secure a $108 billion in global loans. That $108 billion for the IMF amounts to almost $30 billion more than what is actually provided in the final bill for our troops.  I am concerned that there is nothing to prevent IMF loans from going to foreign governments that are less than friendly to the United States, such as Cuba, Iran, and Venezuela.

"The supplemental should have focused on our troops – not on how to help foreign governments who are openly hostile to U.S. interests."

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