The Bush Administration has not provided our troops with the body armor they need to protect themselves. It's been over three years, and now hundreds of thousands of brave American service men and women have risked their lives in Iraq -- with many paying the ultimate price.

An internal government report recently obtained by the New York Times and published in an article this past weekend confirms that "80 percent of the marines who have been killed in Iraq from wounds to the upper body could have survived if they had had extra body armor." The Times report continued, noting that "such armor has been available since 2003," but the Pentagon declined to supply it to the troops despite "calls from the field for additional protection."

This is unconscionable. This is incompetent. This is neglecting our soldiers' needs in war. It is time for Congress to act.

Co-sign my letter to Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Warner (R-VA), urging a full investigation into the welfare and safety of our troops in Iraq!

Dear Chairman Levin and Senator Warner,

For almost three years now, tens of thousands of brave American service men and women have risked their lives in Iraq. And still, the Bush Administration has not provided our troops with the body armor they need to protect themselves.

As you know, an internal government report recently obtained by the New York Times and published in an article this past weekend confirms that "80 percent of the marines who have been killed in Iraq from wounds to the upper body could have survived if they had had extra body armor."

The Times report continued, noting that "such armor has been available since 2003," but the Pentagon declined to supply it to the troops despite "calls from the field for additional protection."

More than 1700 American troops have died during combat. And according to the Times analysis, as many as 300 deaths could have been prevented if our soldiers were equipped with the right kind of body armor -- armor that costs as little as $260 per set.

If the Bush Administration can spend hundreds of billions of dollars on high-tech weapons systems, surely they can spare a few hundred dollars per soldier to equip our troops with the body armor they need to stay safe.

Clearly, Congressional investigation is warranted. Many serious questions demand real answers:

* When were the needs for additional protection first expressed?
* Who knew what and when?
* Why weren't necessary steps taken to protect our soldiers?

The American people deserve no less than full accountability and assurances that going forward our troops will not face unnecessary risks or danger caused by lack of resources, oversight, or commitment from Washington.

I urge you to hold immediate hearings into the Bush Administration's appalling disregard for the welfare of American troops on the ground in Iraq.