WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said Thursday that any benchmarks in the new emergency supplemental spending bill must carry consequences if they are not met.

Reid's comments came hours after the president, amidst growing political pressure, indicated he would agree to the inclusion of benchmarks in the bill that will help fund operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"While we welcome the president's comments today, a bipartisan majority of Congress has already concluded that we need more than simple benchmarks without any consequences to accomplish this goal," Reid said in a statement.

"Congress believes the best way to change course in Iraq is to redeploy our forces from Iraq; refocus the mission of the remaining forces on security, training and counter-terror operations; launch a diplomatic, economic and political offensive; and hold Iraq accountable, including meaningful benchmarks for the Iraqi government and security forces -- and consequences if they do not," he added.