A Return Home from Iraq

In our family, the Occupation of Iraq is not an abstract concept. It is something we live everyday. On May 16th, my wife Beth and I saw our son Adam return home from his second deployment with the 3rd Infantry Division.

The reception hall at Lawson Army Airfield, Fort Benning, was filled with exuberant, expectant, and proud family members. The soldiers entered the hall in formation and marched past a "Welcome Home Heroes" banner. A roar erupted from the hundreds gathered to greet their loved ones. Homecoming, especially from a combat tour, is exciting for the soldiers, and emotionally charged for their families.

Beth and I felt thankful that Adam had returned safely once again, and were incredibly proud to see him carry a brigade flag into the hall. All around you could see the joy as families and soldiers were reunited. As the names of those who died during this deployment scrolled across a screen, the happiness of the moment was tempered by the knowledge that too many did not return that day to Fort Benning and their families.

Fort Benning is clearly the economic heart of Columbus, Georgia, and the city warmly celebrates the return of soldiers with "Welcome Home Troops" signs and military discounts for everything imaginable. On our weekend visit, returning Iraq veterans and new recruits on leave for "Family Day" filled stores, restaurants, and hotels. This is a town that generally lives for the prosperity brought by the military, and appreciates the combat pay differentials and re-enlistment bonuses specifically.

There is no way one can take part in such a weekend without reflecting upon and questioning the policies that send our sons and daughters, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers halfway around the world to occupy a land where we cannot impose peace. Questioning these policies is necessary, especially for military families, as multiple deployments appear endless and the human and financial cost remains astronomical.

I am proud of our troops. I am especially proud of Adam, and of Jesse and Evelyn, my other soldier-son and his wife. Adam is scheduled to return to Iraq in November 2009 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom VII. Jesse will redeploy to northern Iraq in late August. That will make seven tours of duty for the Hedrick family: three for Adam, two for Jesse, and two for Evelyn. How much more can we ask of the same soldiers and same families before we ask too much?

I am now, more than ever, certain that America's current role in Iraq must come to a close. I wholeheartedly endorse the Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq (www.responsibleplan.com) – a seven point plan supported by Major General Paul Eaton, Ret., and others to end the occupation and bring our soldiers home.

It was great to join other military families at Fort Benning's homecoming celebration for our troops. It is right and important to honor the real sacrifices made by our troops and their families during these long deployments. However, the greatest honor we can bestow is beginning the process of drawing down our troops. Now, right now, is the time to bring our sons and daughters home.

I Endorse and Support A Reponsible Plan to End the War in Iraq

When I began my campaign last year to represent California’s 44th Congressional District, I was motivated by the many policy failures of the Bush Administration embraced by the incumbent congressman. These included the President’s failure to provide a universal health care proposal, an education program designed to undermine our public schools, and trade agreements that have killed good jobs for working families. But personally, for me and my family, the most egregious disappointment has been this Administration’s failed policy in Iraq.

Like hundreds of thousands of other families with loved ones in the military, we have been keenly interested in this President’s course of action. Today my son is serving a second deployment with the Army’s 3rd ID east of Baghdad. Another son and daughter-in-law have served in Iraq as well. As a military family, we support our troops 100%; however it is past time to bring all of our sons and daughters home. This mission must be brought to a close.

Our fighting men and women have performed admirably in a tremendously challenging
environment and the U.S. military has already achieved its stated goal—defeating Saddam’s Army. Our troops verified long ago there were no weapons of mass destruction. There has been no need to stay in Iraq. However, our occupation has come at an enormous cost to our military, our economy and our national prestige. This ruinous war must end so that our military may be restored before they are needed to respond to real threats that may be thrust upon us.

This unilateral and preemptory war has damaged long-term American interests. The situation in Iraq will only improve when the Iraqis take responsibility, and that will not happen as long as our military remains there.

One year of the cost of this war could have funded health care, affordable housing, port security, university scholarships, and so many other services. Instead, we have purchased ill-will, less security for our citizens, and a weakened economy.

I endorse and support “A Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq” as a blueprint for a safe and orderly end to our military occupation. I look forward to working with congressional colleagues to implement the Plan and bring our troops home!

A Tale of Two Economies

January 5, 2008

Two unbelievable stories in two days have further underscored the unfortunate condition of our nation’s economy.

Yesterday, I opened the Riverside Press Enterprise to view the faces of two smiling Canadians. The Press reported the comments of gleeful homebuyers Linda Dunlop of British Columbia and her husband, David Dombowsky. "Our ship has come in," according to Linda Dunlop. You see, they—along with many of their northern neighbors, are snapping up Southern California properties because the Canadian dollar is now worth more than the US dollar. And while the Dunlop-Dumbowsky ship may have come in, the ship has sailed for many American residents of the 44th congressional district. Almost one in forty homes is in foreclosure in our communities thanks to predatory lending, stagnant wages, and the export of many jobs overseas. Apparently the current economic policies have been terrific—for Canadians!

The second surprise came when checking news online. The Drudge Report linked to an equally ironic article—“Standard of living in Britain overtakes USA; first time since 19th century...” The article from The Times noted, “Although many people will be surprised by the figures, Americans have long complained that average incomes have been stagnant in their country. One often-quoted statistical comparison suggests that in real terms the median male full-time salary in America is no higher now than it was in the 1970s.” I guess those “complaints” were valid!

Did you ever think you would see the day that Canadian and British prosperity would outpace that of the United States? Clearly, someone has been asleep at the switch—or in the Capitol. The Bush Administration and its congressional enablers have not protected the interests of working Americans. I do not begrudge Canadian and British prosperity, but I am offended by the damaging economic policies and trade pacts that destroy jobs, devalue our currency, and irreparably hurt working families.

Too many of the current crop of policy makers don’t understand the struggle many working families have in making ends meet each month. I have lived that challenge, and I will not forget the families of the 44th District.

Bill Hedrick

Calvert needs to focus on the issue at hand

Like many of you, I was amazed that Congressman Calvert's October 25, 2007 emailed newsletter consisted of a garbled interpretation of American history, Pilgrims, and a controversy regarding the "constituent service" of selling American flags, etc., rather than the real and immediate crisis facing residents of the 44th Congressional District-wildfires and the tragic loss suffered by Californians.

The focus of Southern California's members of Congress must be fighting for a stronger federal response to support disaster victims and insuring adequate federal resources for heroic firefighters combating wildfires. Today, flames are again racing up Orange County canyons. Riverside County firefighters are preparing to defend homes in Temescal Valley. Members of Congress must demand rapid, effective assistance from Washington. Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego Counties cannot become 2007's Gulf Coast, victimized by a disaster and then re-victimized by a politicized FEMA.

I join others in praying for an end to the fires and God's blessing on the victims and firefighters. We need engaged representatives who will fight full-force to make our federal government responsive here and now.

Sincerely,

Bill Hedrick

Calvert - Thoughtless and Stubborn on SCHIP

Dear Friends and Volunteers,

Ken Calvert is wrong in his stubborn opposition to reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Health care costs are bankrupting families. SCHIP-funded state programs like California’s Healthy Families provide relief to families facing ruinous health-related costs by providing affordable quality coverage for children. Children in poverty will be covered, and children whose families are being pushed into poverty will be covered as well. SCHIP is an urgently needed response to the challenge of out-of-control health care costs.

It is disingenuous for Rep. Calvert to oppose expanded health care for needy children—thousands of whom live in Riverside County—because of his speculation that tobacco tax receipts may no longer cover SCHIP expenditures in future years. One fact is certain and not speculative—in recent years Congressman Calvert has supported President Bush’s proposals that have plunged our nation into enormous debt and provided tax breaks for the most wealthy, no-bid contracts, and endless spending for pet projects. It is ironic that now, when it comes to the health care needs of the hard-pressed middle class, some congressmen of the minority party have re-discovered fiscal restraint—and are willing to risk denying care to the neediest among us—while at the same time maintaining their personal access to one of the best health plans in the nation.

Bill Hedrick

Education - A Better Direction for K-12

One of the great achievements of America has been the establishment of a vibrant public school system. The first publicly supported school was founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 1635, and from that beginning locally controlled public schools have been established in virtually all parts of our nation. Public schools have been charged explicitly with delivering knowledge to the young. Public schools also serve as the "common carriers" of American culture, exposing children to the core beliefs and traditions formed by our national experience. In fact, attendance at public school-shared by about 90% of all Americans-is one of the most common experiences for our citizens.

The No Child Left Behind Act, support by President Bush and Rep. Ken Calvert was promoted under the guise of closing achievement gaps between students of different ethnicities, language backgrounds, learning disabilities, and from different socio-economic segments of society. In reality, the aim of this massive legislation seems to be the dismantlement of public schools. The destructive actual agenda is achieved by imposing rigid, unattainable mandates, and when mandated test results fall short for one group or another, the hammer is dropped on local schools and they are declared failures.

All students can learn, however educators-as well as parents-know that not all students learn the same way or at the same pace. NCLB one-size-fits-all mandates not only fail our students, but make a mockery of local community control of schools. Heavy-handed federal control is not what local boards of education need, nor will stigmatizing local schools benefit local communities.

Parents, communities, and local boards of education need to design programs to prepare children to successfully face the challenges of the 21st century. Strangling educators with red tape and choking them with federal regulations hurts schools. The current obsession with constant testing and assessment tremendously detracts from the mission of developing critical thinkers. Let the teachers teach, let the children learn, and let's renew our commitment to quality public schools with a 21st century curriculum.

Bill

Service

I recently had a chance to meet and hear Col. Jeff McCausland (retired), a perceptive and thoughtful man whose military service spanned the decades from Vietnam to the first Gulf war.

Col. McCausland has authored an important message for all Americans regarding common sacrifices. Originally published as a July 4th editorial by the Washington Post, I urge you to visit the link and read Col. McCausland's reflections.

Our family is proud of the service of Adam and Jesse, and of my daughter-in-law Evelyn. We can't wait for Adam and Evelyn to return home-and for all of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan to come safely home soon!