HR 3938
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3938
To repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against
Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243) and to require the withdrawal
of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 23, 2007
Mr. DINGELL 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 repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against
Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243) and to require the withdrawal
of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Bring Our Troops Home Responsibly Act of
2007'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Prior to the initiation of the war in Iraq, the President cited
concerns about weapons of mass destruction programs as one justification
for the use of military force in Iraq. On October 6, 2004, the head
of the Iraq Survey Group (ISG), Charles Duelfer, announced to the Committee
on Armed Services of the Senate that the group found no evidence that
Iraq under Saddam Hussein had produced and stockpiled any weapons of
mass destruction since 1991.
(2) Prior to the initiation of the war in Iraq, the President cited
Saddam Hussein's role as a brutal dictator who tortured and killed thousands
of Iraqi civilians during his 20-year rule as a justification for the
use of military force in Iraq. Saddam Hussein was captured by United
States forces on December 13, 2003, convicted of charges related to
the execution of 148 Iraqi civilians on November 5, 2006, and executed
on December 30, 2006.
(3) Prior to the initiation of the war in Iraq, the President cited
possible links between the Al-Qaeda terrorist network and Saddam Hussein's
government as a justification for the use of military force in Iraq.
Reports by the Central Intelligence Agency, the Defense Intelligence
Agency, and the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of
Defense have all concluded that there was little evidence of any such
links. While there is currently violence in Iraq directed towards American
troops, a September 2007 Congressional Research Service report found
that attacks by the group Al-Qaeda in Iraq make up only a small percentage
of the total number of attacks on United States troops in Iraq.
(4) Prior to the initiation of the war in Iraq, the President cited
the importance of spreading democracy in the Middle East as a justification
for the use of military force in Iraq. On October 15, 2005, the Iraqi
people voted to ratify a new constitution, on January 30, 2005, the
Iraqi people elected 275 members of a newly created Iraqi National Assembly,
and on May 20, 2006, Nouri al-Maliki was approved as Prime Minister
of Iraq by the National Assembly and sworn in.
(5) The President has failed to secure international support for the
continuing efforts in Iraq. While the President has executed a plan
known as the `troop surge', every other nation participating in the
occupation of Iraq is reducing troop levels. The United Kingdom has
reduced its troop levels from 45,000 to approximately 4,500. Twenty
nations that had once been members of the international coalition contributing
troops have completely withdrawn those troops from Iraq.
(6) The United States has accomplished all of the military goals announced
by the President at the outset of the war in Iraq. The brave men and
women of the Armed Forces have performed admirably, showing both dedication
to their mission and professionalism in carrying that mission out.
(7) The Bush Administration has, at various times, confirmed that the
military goals of the war in Iraq were complete. On May 1, 2003, the
President stood in front of a banner reading `Mission Accomplished'
and declared an end to major military operations in Iraq. On May 30,
2005, the Vice President stated in a television interview that the insurgency
was in its `last throes'.
(8) It is clear that the American people are looking for a change in
strategy in Iraq--one that will allow the Nation to safely and responsibly
bring members of the Armed Forces home as quickly as possible. However,
the strategy outlined by the President in his September 13, 2007, address
makes it clear that the President has no plan for substantially reducing
the number of troops in Iraq while he is in office. It is unconscionable
for President Bush to leave this situation for the next President to
fix.
SEC. 3. REPEAL OF PUBLIC LAW 107-243.
The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of
2002 (Public Law 107-243) is hereby repealed.
SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States--
(1) that, based upon the findings of section 1, the United States has
accomplished those military goals that were established at the outset
of the use of military force in Iraq, and that it no longer benefits
the national security of the United States for members of the United
States Armed Forces to remain in Iraq;
(2) that the United States should begin withdrawing its Armed Forces
from Iraq in a safe, responsible, and orderly manner, and that such
withdrawal should begin no later than 30 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and should be accomplished by 12:00 p.m. on January
20, 2009;
(3) that the congressionally mandated report produced by the Iraq Study
Group contains a set of recommendations which, if followed, would assist
the United States in accomplishing a troop withdrawal in the most responsible
manner possible and prepare the Iraqis to return to full self-government;
(4) that it is the moral duty of the United States to continue assisting
the Government of Iraq in rebuilding and reconstruction efforts, as
well as efforts to find a lasting political solution to the ongoing
sectarian conflict that has occurred since the United States military
invasion of Iraq, and that doing so will require that the United States
engage in vigorous diplomatic efforts and the engagement of other regional
and global actors; and
(5) that the United States is further morally obligated to provide humanitarian
assistance for the millions of Iraqi refugees that have been displaced
since the beginning of the war in Iraq, especially those Iraqi civilians
who have become targets for violence because they have worked with or
assisted the United States military or the Iraqi Government.
SEC. 5. WITHDRAWAL OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM IRAQ.
(a) Not more than 30 days after the date of the enactment of the Act,
the Secretary of Defense shall begin the withdrawal of members of the
Armed Forces from Iraq, and shall complete this withdrawal by 12:00 p.m.
January 20, 2009, except as otherwise provided in this Act.
(b) No funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department
of Defense shall be expended to increase the number of members of the
Armed Forces in Iraq beyond the number of such members in Iraq on the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) No funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department
of Defense shall be expended for the construction of permanent United
States military installations in Iraq.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Department of
Defense may retain such members of the Armed Forces in Iraq as required
for the following purposes:
(1) Protection of the United States Embassy, including Embassy personnel.
(2) Limited counter-terrorism activities directed at the Al-Qaeda terrorist
network, provided that the members of the Armed Forces carrying out
such activities are not permanently deployed in Iraq.
(3) Nonoffensive military operations designed solely to address humanitarian
concerns in Iraq, including assistance to refugees.
(4) Assisting the Iraqi military in ensuring that Iraq's borders are
secure.
SEC. 6. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report outlining a strategy
to remove the United States Armed Forces from Iraq by 12:00 p.m. on January
20, 2009.
END
