Three District veterans of the war in Iraq yesterday appealed to the
U.S. House of Representatives to extend a provisional floor vote to
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton when Congress reconvenes today, saying they
risked their lives to bring democracy to Baghdad only to return home
without a vote in America's capital. "The maximum is what my buddies
and I are pledged to give," said Army Reserve Spec. Isaac Lewis, 26.
"We believe that voting representation is not too much to ask in
return." Lewis was joined by Specs. Marcus Gray, 22, and Emory Kosh,
22, of the 299th Engineer Company. The 170-member Army Reserve unit
cleared invasion lanes of mines for the 3rd Infantry Division's 1st
Combat Brigade near the Iraqi border in March 2003 and returned to the
United States that August. Norton (D-D.C.), Mayor Anthony A. Williams
(D) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) joined the
soldiers yesterday, issuing a city proclamation honoring Iraq veterans
in the District and calling on House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.)
to intervene by seeking a rule change. Norton and delegates from four
U.S. territories were allowed by Democrats to vote on the House floor
in most cases from 1993 to 1995. However, if their votes ever provided
the margin of victory on a measure, any member of the House could
request a second, binding vote without them. Republicans did away with
the limited vote upon taking control of Congress in 1995. [more]
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