194 Republicans Vow To Work Through Memorial Day Recess

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and 193 other Republicans in the House sent Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) a letter Thursday promising to stay in session through the Memorial Day recess in order to complete work on a spending package for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We are writing to urge you to keep the House in session until Congress completes work on a clean troop funding bill the President can sign into law," the members wrote. "We know the consequences of further funding delays are serious, whether for the well-being and readiness of our troops, success of their mission, or the long-term national security of the United States."

Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) issued a joint statement Tuesday night vowing to hold members in Washington over the recess in order to finish work on a war-time spending bill to fund the military.

Republicans and Democrats have both complained that the Iraqi parliament is considering a two-month summer recess, given the work necessary to establish the government and mitigate sectarian strife.