RENO, NV: Jill Derby, candidate for Nevada's Second Congressional District, highlighted the toll of the Iraq War on American soldiers by offering a question to General David Petraeus Monday. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are scheduled to appear before Congress Tuesday to testify on the current status of the U.S. military and the Iraq War.

"This war has taken a significant toll on our military readiness and our troops' physical and mental health," Derby said. "This is a fundamental threat to our national security."

"The question I would ask Gen. Petraeus is this: 'The Army is saying that more than 25 percent of soldiers on third or fourth tours suffer mental health problems and Army Chief Of Staff General Casey called the Army "out of balance." What are we doing to help our troops, vets and their families deal with these issues?'"

Derby was one of the first to sign on to the Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq, a detailed framework to end the war, stabilize the region, restore America's moral standing in the world, and fulfill promises made to our servicemen and women. The Plan, which is endorsed by a number of high-ranking former military officials and national security experts, outlines more than a dozen pieces of legislation needed to accomplish these goals. Read the entire plan at www.jillderby.com [1].