Dems To Read Names Of Iraq War Dead

National Journal’s Congress Daily

By National Journal Staff

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rahm Emanuel of Illinois is leading an effort to read all the names of the 1,719 soldiers who have been killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, starting tonight during special orders on the House floor.

Additional Democrats who have signed on include Reps. Joseph Crowley, Carolyn McCarthy and Louise Slaughter of New York, Barney Frank of Massachusetts, Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, John Lewis of Georgia, John Spratt of South Carolina, Brian Baird of Washington and Tim Ryan of Ohio.

The effort is expected to extend into next week during special orders, and it is estimated members will read approximately 85 names per hour until it is completed.

Emanuel has had a memorial to those soldiers outside of his office for about a year.

“This is in the same spirit as that,” said a spokeswoman for Emanuel. “We are coming up on the Fourth of July and this is a chance for Congress to honor the fallen who deserve to be remembered for their sacrifice.”