Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer (D-Ala) met with President Bush at the White House today to discuss the resolution authorizing the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq. Cramer joined a bipartisan group of approximately twenty other Members of Congress at a press conference in the Rose Garden at the White House earlier this morning.

"President Bush has provided us with facts that support the need for a resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq if necessary and justify the timing of these actions," said Cramer. "Serving on the Intelligence Committee has also allowed me to be privy to more classified information regarding the War on Terrorism and the Middle East, and I believe President Bush is responding to Iraq in connection with the War on Terrorism. Saddam Hussein is a dangerous person and a very real threat to our nation, and we must join together in a bipartisan fashion to protect ourselves from the threat of a future attack."

Congressman Cramer was asked to join a small, bipartisan group of Members of Congress who have met with President Bush and other cabinet members and intelligence officials over the last few weeks regarding the use of force against Iraq. Congress is expected to vote on a resolution over the next two weeks.

Cramer continued, "We joined together today to express our strong opinion that this cannot become a partisan issue, especially when American lives and the security of our nation are at stake. An open and honest debate about this issue is what democracy is all about, but it cannot be a partisan debate. September 11^th taught us that we cannot be reactive alone, but must proactively protect ourselves against future attacks and people that want to harm or kill Americans. Out of tragedy, you have to make yourself stronger, and I think that is what we are doing here today."