[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 645 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 645
To provide for the withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from Iraq,
to authorize assistance for Iraq, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 23, 2007
Mr. Price of North Carolina (for himself, Mr. Miller of North Carolina,
Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mr.
Fattah, and Mr. Bishop of New York) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition
to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from Iraq,
to authorize assistance for Iraq, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Comprehensive
Strategy for Iraq Act of 2007''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Declaration of policy.
Sec. 3. Expiration of congressional authorization for use of military
force against Iraq.
Sec. 4. Prohibition on use of funds to establish or maintain permanent
United States military presence in Iraq.
Sec. 5. Preparation and submission of United States exit strategy from
Iraq and subsequent United States role in
Iraq.
Sec. 6. Assistance for employment programs and democracy, governance,
and related programs in Iraq.
Sec. 7. Presidential Special Envoys for Iraq Regional Security.
Sec. 8. Report.
Sec. 9. Sense of Congress.
SEC. 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY.
Congress declares that it is the policy of the United States--
(1) to enhance the national security of the United States
by pursuing a strategy that restores United States military
readiness, promotes success in the Global War on Terrorism, and
contributes to peace and stability in Iraq and the greater
Middle East region;
(2) to begin withdrawing United States Armed Forces from
Iraq and to complete the withdrawal in an orderly manner and at
the earliest practicable date, relinquishing to the Government
of Iraq full responsibility for maintaining security and public
safety;
(3) to recognize the elected Government of Iraq as the
legitimate government of a fully sovereign country and
encourage it to take greater responsibility over its natural
resources, security, and public safety within its borders;
(4) to support reconstruction efforts by the Government of
Iraq and to help involve the international community in those
and other stabilization efforts;
(5) to promote national reconciliation in Iraq, including
constitutional revisions to assure the participation of all
Iraqis in the Government of Iraq, equitable sharing of oil
revenues, integration of former Baathists into the national
life of Iraq, dismantling of sectarian militias, and a dialogue
among sectarian communities on the future of Iraq;
(6) to provide diplomatic and political support to the
Government of Iraq to achieve stability and an enduring
democracy;
(7) to transfer to Iraqi Security Forces all bases now
controlled by United States Armed Forces, and to maintain no
permanent bases or other long-term United States military
presence in Iraq;
(8) to fully support the total control and authority over
Iraq's oil assets by the sovereign Government of Iraq; and
(9) to vigorously prosecute a war on terrorist
organizations and networks around the world through an
integrated, comprehensive, and global strategy.
SEC. 3. EXPIRATION OF CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY
FORCE AGAINST IRAQ.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The sole authority for combat operations by the United
States Armed Forces in Iraq is the Authorization for Use of
Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-
243; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note).
(2) In Public Law 107-243, Congress authorized the use of
the Armed Forces as ``necessary and appropriate'' to ``defend
the national security of the United States against the
continuing threat posed by Iraq,'' and to ``enforce all
relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding
Iraq''.
(3) Original missions assigned to the Armed Forces in
accordance with Public Law 107-243--to identify and destroy
Iraqi weapons of mass destruction capabilities, prevent Iraqi
Government support for international terrorism, and end the
authoritarian rule of Saddam Hussein--are no longer operative,
and on December 6, 2006, the Iraq Study Group concluded that
``sectarian violence is now the principle challenge to
stability in Iraq''.
(4) If the authority to use the Armed Forces as provided
under Public Law 107-243 is terminated, the President does not
have authority to continue combat operations in Iraq without
specific authorization by Congress in law.
(b) Expiration.--The authority for the President to use the Armed
Forces as provided by Public Law 107-243 expires on December 31, 2007.
(c) Rule of Construction.--No provision of law, other than Public
Law 107-243, shall be construed as providing authority for combat
operations in Iraq.
SEC. 4. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO ESTABLISH OR MAINTAIN PERMANENT
UNITED STATES MILITARY PRESENCE IN IRAQ.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds appropriated or
otherwise made available under any provision of law may not be
obligated or expended for the purpose of establishing or maintaining a
permanent United States military presence in Iraq through the
establishment or use of military installations or facilities in Iraq
intended to be under the exclusive control of the Armed Forces rather
than under the control of the Government of Iraq.
SEC. 5. PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF UNITED STATES EXIT STRATEGY FROM
IRAQ AND SUBSEQUENT UNITED STATES ROLE IN IRAQ.
(a) Strategy Required.--No later than 30 days after the enactment
of this act, the President shall submit to Congress a report outlining
a strategy to bring combat operations by the United States Armed Forces
in Iraq to an end.
(b) Content of Strategy.--The strategy required by this section
shall include the following elements:
(1) A plan for phasing out the number of members of the
Armed Forces in Iraq so that the use of military force, as
authorized by the Authorization for Use of Military Force
Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243; 50 U.S.C.
1541 note), ends no later than December 31, 2007.
(2) A description of the timetable for withdrawing the
Armed Forces from Iraq, including a date for the initial
withdrawal of the Armed Forces and specific objectives for
additional troop reductions before December 31, 2007.
(3) A description of the remaining mission of the Armed
Forces in Iraq, including an enumeration of the goals and
objectives of that mission and a strategy for achieving these
goals and objectives.
(4) An assessment of any need for a military mission to
begin after December 31, 2007, except that any such mission
shall only be advisory in nature and shall exclude combat
operations by Armed Forces personnel.
(5) An assessment of the need to maintain one or more units
of the Armed Forces in the region as a regional
counterterrorism strike force to rapidly respond to terrorism
threats against the United States and its interests.
(6) A plan for turning over authority for all remaining
security and government operations in Iraq to the Government of
Iraq.
(7) An assessment of remaining needs for the training and
fielding of the Iraqi Security Forces.
(8) An assessment of remaining reconstruction needs in
Iraq.
SEC. 6. ASSISTANCE FOR EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS AND DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE,
AND RELATED PROGRAMS IN IRAQ.
(a) Assistance for Employment Programs.--
(1) Assistance authorized.--Subject to paragraph (2), the
President is authorized to provide assistance for projects
designed to provide employment opportunities for the people of
Iraq. Projects funded under this subsection shall be carried
out on an equitable basis in all regions of Iraq, as
appropriate.
(2) Certification.--Assistance may be provided under
paragraph (1) only if the President certifies to Congress that
the Government of Iraq has successfully concluded an agreement
that will allow for the peaceful sharing of power and resources
among major ethnic and sectarian factions in Iraq.
(3) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this
subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated to the
President $2,000,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008
through 2010.
(b) Assistance for Democracy, Governance, and Related Programs.--
(1) Assistance authorized.--The President is authorized to
provide assistance to strengthen democracy, governance, human
rights, the rule of law, and religious freedom in Iraq.
(2) Requirement.--To the maximum extent practicable, not
less than 50 percent of amounts made available to carry out
this subsection for a fiscal year shall be expended to support
the development of democratic institutions at the local and
provincial levels in Iraq.
(3) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this
subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated to the
President $300,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008
through 2010.
SEC. 7. PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL ENVOYS FOR IRAQ REGIONAL SECURITY.
(a) Appointment of Special Envoys.--Not later than 15 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall appoint two
Presidential Special Envoys for Iraq Regional Security.
(b) Duties.--The Presidential Special Envoys appointed pursuant to
subsection (a) shall have the following duties:
(1) Enter into discussions with the Government of Iraq and
governments of neighboring countries to support Iraq's efforts
to achieve peace and stability and to take necessary actions to
prevent regional instability.
(2) Organize and obtain commitments to participate in a
regional conference on Iraq's future, to include
representatives of the Government of the United States, the
Government of Iraq, the United Nations, the League of Arab
States, the European Union, and the governments of neighboring
countries, including, at minimum, the Governments of Egypt,
Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey.
(3) Organize an Iraq Support Group, consisting of
representatives of the entities described in paragraph (2), to
coordinate regional and international policy in support of
Iraq's efforts to achieve peace and stability.
(4) Work with officials of the Government of Iraq and other
domestic stakeholders to organize a forum for negotiations on
national reconciliation.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary
for fiscal year 2008.
SEC. 8. REPORT.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report on the following:
(1) The efforts of the United States to promote regional
dialogue on Iraq's future, including efforts by the
Presidential Special Envoys for Iraq Regional Security to carry
out the duties specified in section 7(b) of this Act.
(2) The status of pledges of financial assistance for the
relief and reconstruction of Iraq made by members of the
international community at the Madrid International Conference
on Reconstruction in Iraq and other international conferences
for the relief and reconstruction of Iraq since March 2003.
(3) The efforts of the United States to encourage other
countries and international institutions to fulfill the pledges
of financial assistance described in paragraph (2).
(b) Definition.--In this section, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed
Services, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed
Services, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
SEC. 9. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that the Government of the United
States should redeploy such diplomatic, political, and military assets
as are necessary--
(1) to complete Operation Enduring Freedom, including to
defeat remaining Taliban and al Qaeda forces threatening the
stability of Afghanistan; and
(2) to support efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and
deny terrorists haven in other regions of the world in which
terrorist organizations threaten the interests of the United
States.
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