Debate is expected to intensify in the coming weeks when President Bush sends Congress a $100 billion budget request to fund the Iraq War. Democratic leaders appear to have chosen a new strategy that would allow war funding only if combat units are certified as battle-ready and troops have been given at least a year at home before additional deployment. Supporters say the strategy would allow Democrats to maintain support for U.S. troops while effectively opposing the troop increase because the military is overstretched. Democrats including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressmember John Murtha are backing the proposal.