(Editor's Note: The following is Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy's statement on the House Iraq Debate.)

"Despite the brave efforts of our troops, the situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate. Our troops have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Unfortunately, they are caught in the middle of sectarian violence that has plagued the region for centuries. Many of these troops have served three full tours of duty in Iraq. More than 3,000 have made the ultimate sacrifice and thousands more have suffered debilitating injuries. I am opposed to any increase in troop levels and believe it's time to shift the burden of this conflict to the Iraqis themselves.

"From the onset of the conflict there has been mismanagement and mishandling from this administration. Poor planning by civilian leaders within the administration has placed our brave men and women in harm's way. This administration was not prepared for the violence following the removal of Saddam Hussein.

"In addition, the previous Congress did not do its job of oversight. The 110th Congress held the first oversight hearing since the invasion in 2003. That's four years without any Congressional oversight. Since January, we have held fifty-two oversight hearings on Iraq. It turns out that nearly $12 billion from the American taxpayers has not been accounted for. That's $12 billion that could have been spent on equipment to protect our troops. Our troops deserve better.

"The president explained his new plan for Iraq last month. It called for an increase of 20,000 more troops into Iraq. Unfortunately, I am afraid this is too little too late. Throughout the conflict our troop levels have changed. To no fault of the troops, the extra numbers did not calm the situation.

"I do not believe that putting more of our brave men and women in harm's way is the solution to this conflict. President Bush emphasized his intentions of placing more authority and responsibility on the Iraqi government. I believe this is the right approach. However, Prime Minister Maliki has not proven he can effectively stop the violence. He has failed to bring equal representation of the Sunnis and the Shiites into the Iraqi government. This shortfall has fueled sectarian violence, putting our troops in greater harm.

"Our troops have gone above and beyond the call of duty. They have served our country bravely and honorably. We have a responsibility in Congress to make sure our troops aren't unnecessarily put in harm's way.

"After much thought, I have come to the conclusion that a phased redeployment of our troops is the best option. We must show Prime Minister Maliki we are serious about shifting control of the situation to the Iraqis. Redeploying our troops to control the borders and stop weapons and insurgents from entering Iraq will send that message while protecting American lives.

"It is also vital that we bring regional leaders to the table to develop a diplomatic solution. This situation will be decided by political means, not with the American military. Diplomacy works, and it is time to shift our focus.

"There is no easy solution to this conflict. However, I am saddened the president has decided to send in more troops. I am forced to reject the president's plan and will work with my colleagues to develop a successful strategy on Iraq."

(Editor's Note: The following is a statement from Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy on the shootings in PA and UT.)

"We learned of more unnecessary deaths from gun violence in Philadelphia, PA and Salt Lake City, UT. I am saddened to hear of these events and have introduced legislation that if enacted will prevent further violence.

"In Philadelphia, a gunman opened fire on his colleagues using an AK-47 assault rifle he legally purchased. These dangerous weapons, which are intended to hit multiple targets in a short period of time, were allowed back on our streets when the federal ban on assault weapons expired in 2004. The deaths in Philadelphia could have been prevented if Congress had done its job of protecting the homeland and renewed the assault weapons ban.

"I have again introduced legislation to permanently ban assault weapons. These weapons have no practical use. They are not used by hunters for sport or by individuals for self-defense. They are intended to kill as many individuals as possible in a short amount of time and have no place on our streets. The unfortunate situation in Philadelphia could have been avoided if Congress stood up to the gun lobby in 2004.

"In Salt Lake City, a young man opened fire in a crowded mall, killing more than 10 individuals. It appears the shooter was not mentally stable and police are still investigating how he obtained the weapons.

"It is vital that the background check records are current and comprehensive. I have introduced HR 297, the NICS Improvement Act, which would strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. These records let gun dealers know when an individual should not be allowed to purchase a firearm. Improving the quality of these records will keep guns out of the wrong hands and make our country safer.

"I am deeply saddened by yesterday's events. I remain committed to passing common sense legislation to prevent further acts of gun violence."