Progressives Introduce New Comprehensive Legislation to Compel Change in U.S. Policy in Iraq
February 28, 2008, Washington, DC
Includes Requirement to Redeploy U.S. Troops and Military Contractors Within One Year of Enactment
U.S. Representatives Lynn Woolsey and Barbara Lee, Co-Chairs of Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) and other CPC Members, including U.S. Representative Maxine Waters, Chair of the Out of Iraq Caucus introduced new sweeping legislation yesterday to change the course of U.S. policy in Iraq in many ways, including a requirement to redeploy virtually all U.S. troops and military contractors within one year of the date of enactment of this comprehensive new bill--The Fully-Funded U.S. Military Redeployment and Sovereignty of Iraq Restoration Act.
“ We agree with a clear majority of the American people who have concluded that President Bush mistakenly ordered the U.S.-led military invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq nearly 5 years ago. That is why we are redoubling our legislative battle inside Congress to redirect U.S. policy in Iraq and bring our troops and military contractors home within one year of the date of enactment of our new legislation,” Congresswoman Woolsey declared. “According to General Casey, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, 'there is no question that the army is stretched as a result of more than 6 years of war and [is]out of balance today' and, according to Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, 'the U.S. military is taking a significant risk with current troop deployments.'
“Five years after this foreign policy debacle, there is no question that we need to finally listen to the American people and fully fund the redeployment of our troops and contractors from Iraq,” said CPC Co-Chair Congresswoman Barbara Lee. “It's time for Congress to stop the financial hemorrhage and support this bill to require redeployment within one year. We have already spent $495 billion in Iraq and experts predict we will waste upwards of $3 trillion on Bush's war, while the country slips further into a Bush recession. We can't sit by and allow this senseless occupation to continue.”
Key provisions of this new comprehensive bill include:
- Congress declares it to be the policy of the U.S -- (1) to commence the safe and orderly redeployment of U.S. troops and military contractors and end the military occupation of Iraq within one-year of the date of enactment of this bill; (2) to pursue security and stability in Iraq through diplomacy; (3 to help preserve the territorial integrity of Iraq as a nation state and establish a strong, effective, and democratic central government consistent with the provisions of the Iraqi constitution; (4) to take all appropriate measures to account for any missing members of the U.S. Armed Forces or U.S. citizens in Iraq; and (5) to turn over all internal security activities and military operations in Iraq to the elected Government of Iraq not later than the end of the one-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act.
- Repeals the authorization for use of military force against Iraq of 2002.
- Within 1 year of the date of enactment of this bill, requires all U.S. troops (except for 500 soldiers posted to protect the U.S. Embassy and to safeguard Americans remaining in Iraq for nonmilitary purposes) and military contractors to be withdrawn from Iraq and returned to the U.S. or redeployed outside of the Middle East.
- Prohibits the use of any additional funding except: (1) to provide for the safe and orderly withdrawal of U.S. troops and military contractors; and (2) to ensure the security of Iraq and its transition to democratic rule by carrying out consultations with the Government of Iraq, other foreign governments, NATO, the UN, and other international organizations.
- Funds shall remain available to carry out social and economic reconstruction activities in Iraq.
- Prohibits construction of any permanent or long-term U.S. military installations in Iraq, once the withdrawal and redeployment of U.S. troops and military contractors are completed and transfers to the Government of Iraq any pre-existing U.S. military facilities unless explicitly approved by Congress in the form of a treaty or statute.
- Requires President to initiate a diplomatic surge to bring an expeditious end to the military occupation of Iraq.
- Authorizes U.S. support for the deployment of an international stabilization force to Iraq to enhance public security after the withdrawal/redeployment of U.S. troops and military contractors for up to two years to commence not later than the end of the one-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this bill, but only if requested jointly by the executive and legislative branches of the Government of Iraq (including with the support of the National Assembly of Iraq).
- Requires closure of all detention centers operated by the U.S. or under contract with the U.S. Government no later than one year after the date of enactment of this bill.
- Provides standing for Iraqi prisoners/detainees who may have been tortured to bring suit for redress in U.S. federal district courts.
- Limits total number of U.S. Government employees assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad to no more than 500, not including U.S. troops assigned to the U.S. Embassy.
- Authorizes establishment of bipartisan Commission on Funding the Reconstruction of Iraq.
- Authorizes establishment of Iraqi-U.S. Interparliamentary Group to support democratic capacity-building in Iraq.
- Expands U.S. support for national reconciliation in Iraqi civil society through activities of the U.S. Institute of Peace.
- Prohibits U.S. participation in any long-term Iraqi oil production sharing agreements without presidential certification to Congress that the Government of Iraq has established and is enforcing laws that provide for the regulation of activities of foreign governments and foreign nationals pursuant to contracts for the development, production, or marketing of Iraqi petroleum resources.
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