Mr. Speaker, the President has announced a plan to redeploy troops from Iraq, and if you're watching the nightly news or pick up a paper, you might think that the occupation was actually over. But when was the last time you saw a major TV news story from Iraq or some ink at least above the fold about Iraq?

Sadly, the United States' occupation of Iraq is far from over. The need still remains for a stable nation and a stable Iraqi Government that is able to provide basic services and a sense of normalcy and support of the rule of law for everyone in Iraq.

Almost 6 years ago today, the United States military was mobilized in a preemptive attack on Iraq. By now we all know there were no weapons of mass destruction. However, destruction was left in the wake of the invasion. Both the Iraqi and American Governments must focus on these immediate pressing human needs rather than continuing military presence. A prolonged occupation is not the answer. Prosperity and stability will not come at the end of a gun. We must support reconstruction. We must support reconciliation efforts. And we must find the best way out of Iraq so that we can begin all of this. And the best way is by bringing our troops and military contractors home from Iraq so then we can give Iraq back to the Iraqis and work with them to rebuild reconciliation and to return to their homes.

Families face unimaginable hardships, from widespread violence and suicide attacks to the destruction of their schools, their hospitals, and utility providers. Some of the devastation can be and is actually visible, and it's rubble that still litters the streets and walled-off sections of neighborhoods.

The more difficult picture to capture is that of the refugees. Millions have fled their homes never to return. Nationwide there are between 1.6 million and 2.8 million internally displaced people, refugees who left their homes but not Iraq. According to the International Organization of Migration, only 288,000 have returned home. Refugees International calls this one of the largest humanitarian and displacement crises in the world. They say ``most are unable to access their food rations and are often unemployed; they live in squalid conditions, have run out of resources, and find it extremely difficult to access essential services.''

Mr. Speaker, the Iraqi Government has established a program to reimburse Iraqi families who have lost their homes. Most families get about half of their home's value, and that's when someone can safely come into the area to assess the damage. This process is slow going and will never make these families whole.

But to what are Iraqi families returning? Refugees International found that some Iraqis who have tried to return home have found their homes occupied or destroyed, the likelihood of violence still high, a collapse of social services, and neighborhoods divided into sectarian areas.

Sadly, the U.S. occupation has caused this to happen. But the good news is we have a chance to bring our troops home, give Iraq back to the Iraqi people, and let them have their sovereignty and let them get home to their properties. We need to help them do that. What we don't need to be doing is spending more money on the military occupation in Iraq.