110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 960
To enhance the national security interests of the United States
both at home and abroad by setting a deliberate timetable for the redeployment
of United States Armed Forces from Iraq by December 31, 2007, and for other
purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 8, 2007
Mr. SESTAK (for himself, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, and Mr. COHEN) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and
in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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 enhance the national security interests of the United States
both at home and abroad by setting a deliberate timetable for the redeployment
of United States Armed Forces from Iraq by December 31, 2007, 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.
This Act may be cited as the `Enhancing America's Security through Redeployment
from Iraq Act'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The men and women of the United States Armed Forces have performed
brilliantly in Iraq and served the Nation courageously.
(2) The worsening situation in Iraq is a product of ongoing sectarian
violence in which the United States Armed Forces have been asked to take
sides and referee an ongoing civil war.
(3) Sending more United States troops to Iraq, and remaining there indefinitely,
will only further increase the dependence of the people of Iraq on the
United States, both politically and militarily, at a time when Iraqis
should be shouldering increased responsibility for their country.
(4) The failure to confidently engage diplomatically with all countries
in the region, including Iran and Syria, has foreclosed opportunities
to further the stability of Iraq.
(5) The loss of national treasure--with billions of dollars in reconstruction
aid unaccounted for, and billions of dollars being spent for a conflict
with elusive, ever-changing goals, while United States ground forces are
strained almost to the breaking point--has negatively impacted United
States military readiness and hindered the ability of the United States
to focus on other security priorities both at home and abroad.
(6) As a result, continuing in the current direction in Iraq means less
security and a greater strategic security risk for the United States by
diverting the attention and resources needed to advance more significant
United States security goals in the Global War on Terror and to address
regional challenges from Afghanistan, North Korea, and Iran to the Western
Pacific and Middle East regions.
(7) Maintaining a strong United States military presence in the Middle
East and Southwest Asia regions is necessary to ensure the protection
and advancement of United States and allied interests.
SEC. 3. DECLARATIONS OF POLICY.
Congress makes the following declarations of policy:
(1) The United States must communicate unequivocally to the political
leaders in Iraq that they must take the difficult political steps necessary
to cease the sectarian violence in Iraq, including building coalitions
among competing sects, ensuring minority rights, balancing power between
provincial and central governments, and sharing oil revenues among all
regions of Iraq.
(2) The United States must create strong incentives for countries in the
region to engage constructively with Iraq.
(3) The policy goals of paragraphs (1) and (2) cannot be accomplished
by continuing an open-ended United States military commitment to Iraq.
Rather, only by setting a deliberate timetable for the redeployment of
United States Armed Forces from Iraq will the United States be able to
ensure that the political leaders of Iraq acknowledge and accept that
they must take the difficult political steps necessary to cease the sectarian
violence in Iraq, understanding that they would otherwise bear the consequences
of not assuming responsibility for their country.
SEC. 4. REDEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES MILITARY FORCES FROM IRAQ.
(a) Redeployment Required-
(1) REQUIREMENT- Except as provided in subsection (b), not later than
December 31, 2007, all United States Armed Forces serving in Iraq as part
of Operation Iraqi Freedom shall be redeployed outside of Iraq, to locations
within the Middle East or Southwest Asia regions or to other regions or
nations, or returned to the United States.
(2) PURPOSE AND PACE OF REDEPLOYMENT- The redeployment required by this
subsection shall be carried out for purposes of both enhancing the global
security interests of the United States and improving the military readiness
of the United States. The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the redeployment
is carried out at deliberate, orderly pace that allows for the full security
of members of the Armed Forces.
(b) Exceptions to Redeployment Requirement- The redeployment required by
subsection (a) shall not apply to the following:
(1) SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES- Special operations forces assigned outside
of Iraq that conduct either targeted counter-terrorism operations or periodic
support operations of the Iraqi security forces in Iraq.
(2) MILITARY LIAISON TEAMS- Military or civilian personnel on military
liaison teams involved in military-to-military contacts and comparable
activities between the United States and Iraq, as authorized under section
168 of title 10, United States Code.
(3) AIR SUPPORT- Members of the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps assigned
to locations outside Iraq for purposes of conducting air operations in
Iraq (including air operations in support of combat operations) to support
the Iraqi security forces.
(4) COUNTER-TERRORISM OPERATIONS- Members of the Armed Forces conducting
targeted counter-terrorism operations in Iraq.
(5) SECURITY FOR UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN IRAQ- Members of
the Armed Forces providing security for the United States Embassy and
other United States diplomatic missions in Iraq.
(6) DEFENSE ATTACHE- Personnel conducting routine functions of the Office
of Defense Attache.
SEC. 5. LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.
Funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Defense
under any provision of law for Operation Iraqi Freedom may be obligated
or expended after December 31, 2007, only for personnel described in and
activities carried out pursuant to section 4(b).
SEC. 6. DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS BY THE UNITED STATES.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States should take a leadership role in diplomatic efforts
and negotiations necessary for countries in the region, including Iran
and Syria, to work together to ensure the long-term stability of Iraq,
which is in the best interests of such countries and the United States;
and
(2) the United States should convene an international conference to bring
together countries throughout the world to provide economic aid for rebuilding
the infrastructure of Iraq and other reconstruction efforts in Iraq that
are essential to ensure the long-term stability of Iraq.
END
