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WASHINGTON - Speaker Nancy Pelosi pledged the support of House Democrats Thursday for legislation declaring that President Bush's decision to send additional troops to Iraq is "not in the national interest of the United States."

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) talks during a news conference on the legislation passed in the first 100 legislative hours of the 110th Congress in the Capitol in Washington January 18, 2007.[Reuters]

Pelosi's commitment came as Senate Democrats said they intend to begin advancing a nonbinding measure next week that criticizes the White House's new strategy.

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Democrats sought to bring public pressure to bear on the president's new policy as Bush and senior administration officials worked to limit Republican defections.

"He said, 'If you can help us out, I really appreciate your help,'" Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., said after a White House meeting with the commander in chief.

Senate Democrats, backed by two Republicans, unveiled legislation Wednesday that criticized Bush's decision to increase troop levels by 21,500. "It is not in the national interest of the United States to deepen its military involvement in Iraq, particularly by escalating the United States military force presence in Iraq," the nonbinding Senate measure states.

At a news conference, Pelosi read those words aloud approvingly, and said, "That resolution will be supported by Democrats in the House."

At the same time, Pelosi offered no indication that Congress will be able to prevent Bush from carrying out his plan.

She did not directly address the issue when asked, and Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the House majority leader, said, "As a practical matter, we know that the president has the constitutional authority ... to increase the troops."

Democratic leaders in both houses have said repeatedly they will not support any attempt to cut off funds for troops who already have been deployed.

Democratic leaders have not said when they intend to seek votes on their legislation, and Senate Republicans have maneuvered successfully to avoid the spectacle of a repudiation of the president before he delivers his annual State of the Union address next Tuesday.

Joseph Biden, the Delaware Democrat who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the panel will debate the measure criticizing Bush's troop escalation on Wednesday.

Republicans in both houses are expected to draft alternative legislation, in part to give members of their rank-and-file a measure to support rather than merely oppose what Democrats draft. Officials said one possibility under discussion is an alternative that supports the troop increase as long as the Iraqi government meets certain conditions, although no final decisions have been made.

Whenever the votes occur, administration supporters have expressed fears that the president faces a bipartisan repudiation of significant proportions.

So far, Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Olympia Snowe of Maine are the only Republicans to announce their backing for the Senate measure. A third lawmaker, Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., signaled during the day he is giving serious consideration to joining them.

"Senator Smith is opposed to a troop surge," said his spokesman, R.C. Hammond. "He is very open to serious ways that Congress can influence the president's Iraq strategy."

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