Security and Victory in Iraq Act of 2007 - Directs the President every 30 days to certify to the appropriate congressional committees the extent to which the government of Iraq: (1) is cooperating with U.S. stability efforts in Iraq; and (2) has made demonstrable progress toward achieving stability and security for its people, denying terrorists a sanctuary in Iraq, and ensuring equal access to resources.
Directs the President every 30 days to report to the appropriate congressional committees respecting: (1) implementation of the Iraq "A New Way Forward" strategy; (2) the government of Iraq's progress in meeting specified benchmarks; (3) Iraqi Army progress and operations; (4) expenditure of funds for the Iraqi Army; (5) effectiveness of the police force in Baghdad; and (6) contributions by U.S. allies to support the government and people of Iraq.
Directs the President to: (1) require all relevant U.S. departments and agencies to conduct an interagency assessment of the impact that U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq would have on U.S. national security and homeland security interests and on U.S. allies in the region; and (2) report to the appropriate congressional committees.
Establishes in the House of Representatives the Select Bipartisan Committee to Monitor United States Policy and Strategy for Iraq.
[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1062 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1062
To require the President to report to Congress on the extent to which
the Government of Iraq is fully cooperating with United States
stability efforts in Iraq and is making demonstrable progress toward
achieving stability and security for the people of Iraq and denying
terrorists a sanctuary in Iraq, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 15, 2007
Mr. Boehner (for himself, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Putnam, Mr. Cantor, Mr.
McCotter, Mr. Cole of Oklahoma, Ms. Granger, Mr. Carter, Mr. Dreier,
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Hoekstra, Mr. King of New York, Mr.
Lewis of California, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Bachus, Mrs. Biggert, Mr.
Bonner, Mr. Boustany, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. Calvert, Mr. Chabot,
Mr. Culberson, Mr. David Davis of Tennessee, Mr. Doolittle, Mrs. Drake,
Ms. Fallin, Mr. Fortenberry, Mr. Fortuno, Ms. Foxx, Mr. Gallegly, Mr.
Gilchrest, Mr. Gohmert, Mr. Hastings of Washington, Mr. Inglis of South
Carolina, Mr. Keller of Florida, Mr. Kline of Minnesota, Mr.
Knollenberg, Mr. Kuhl of New York, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. LaHood, Mr.
LaTourette, Mr. McCarthy of California, Mr. McCaul of Texas, Mr.
McHugh, Mr. McKeon, Mr. Manzullo, Mr. Marchant, Mrs. Miller of
Michigan, Mr. Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania, Mr. Neugebauer, Mr. Nunes,
Mr. Platts, Mr. Petri, Mr. Poe, Mr. Porter, Mr. Price of Georgia, Ms.
Pryce of Ohio, Mr. Rehberg, Mr. Reichert, Mr. Rogers of Kentucky, Mr.
Roskam, Mr. Sali, Mr. Saxton, Mrs. Schmidt, Mr. Sensenbrenner, Mr.
Sessions, Mr. Shays, Mr. Shuster, Mr. Smith of Nebraska, Mr. Smith of
Texas, Mr. Stearns, Mr. Tancredo, Mr. Tiahrt, Mr. Terry, Mr. Tiberi,
Mr. Thornberry, Mr. Walberg, Mr. Wamp, and Mr. Wilson of South
Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on
Rules, 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 require the President to report to Congress on the extent to which
the Government of Iraq is fully cooperating with United States
stability efforts in Iraq and is making demonstrable progress toward
achieving stability and security for the people of Iraq and denying
terrorists a sanctuary in 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.
This Act may be cited as the ``Security and Victory in Iraq Act of
2007''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The national security mission of the United States and
its coalition partners, having removed Saddam Hussein and his
regime from power, is to help establish a sovereign, free,
secure, and united Iraq at peace with its neighbors.
(2) The people of Iraq in 2005 went to the polls in great
numbers and in an historic democratic process elected an
interim government, voted on a new constitution, and elected a
permanent democratic government.
(3) Since its inception, Iraq's democratic government has
been under continuous attack from extremist insurgents,
terrorists, and, more recently, growing sectarian conflict.
(4) The increasing violence is now threatening Iraq's
government, endangering regional stability and creating the
opportunity for safe havens for terrorists.
(5) The National Intelligence Estimate for Iraq, released
February 2, 2007, stated: ``Coalition capabilities, including
force levels, resources, and operations, remain an essential
stabilizing element in Iraq.''. The National Intelligence
Estimate for Iraq stated further that if Coalition forces were
to withdraw rapidly, the intelligence community judges that
neighboring countries--invited by Iraqi factions or
unilaterally--might intervene openly in the conflict.
(6) There is evidence that the sectarian violence is
pulling in neighboring countries, with United States and
coalition commanders in Iraq, intelligence sources, and the
Iraq Study Group all affirming that Syria and Iran are actively
supporting efforts to undermine stability in Iraq, with
reporting attesting that Iran has provided arms, financial
support, and training for militias within Iraq and may be
supplying improvised explosive devices to groups that attack
United States forces.
(7) Israeli Prime Minister Olmert underscored the regional
consequences of a United States withdrawal from Iraq in a
December 11, 2006, interview with the Washington Post and
Newsweek saying: ``If there is a premature pullout before Iraq
has a robust government with a strong authority that can keep
the country from collapsing into an internal civil war, America
will have to think about the possible ramifications on
neighbouring Arab countries with moderate governments. . . .
How will it affect the stability of these countries against the
radical forces that might flourish as a result of a premature
pullout of America?''.
(8) Ayman al-Zawahiri has repeatedly stated the need to
extend the jihad beyond Iraq and wrote in an October 2005
letter to the late al-Qaeda leader al-Zarqawi, that the
Islamist militant extremists ``must not have their mission end
with the expulsion of the Americans from Iraq, and then lay
down their weapons. . . . Instead, their ongoing mission is to
establish an Islamic state, and defend it, and for every
generation to hand over the banner to the one after it . . .''.
(9) This commitment to imposing militant extremist Islam
throughout the world was recently echoed by Iranian leader
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was quoted as saying on January 5,
2007: ``We don't shy away from declaring that Islam is ready to
rule the world. . . . We must prepare ourselves to rule the
world.''.
(10) The failure to secure Iraq would threaten America's
vital national security interests, in a strategically important
region in the world, and our homeland security interests.
(11) Recognizing the investment of troops and resources had
outpaced results in Iraq, the President and a congressionally-
established commission, the Iraq Study Group, conducted
reappraisals of our policies and strategies in Iraq.
(12) The President outlined a new strategy on January 10,
2007, to immediately further United States national security
priorities, to provide greater security for the Iraqi
population, and to accelerate progress on essential political,
social, and economic reforms necessary to the long-term
stability of the central government and the country.
(13) On January 26, 2007, the United States Senate
unanimously confirmed General David H. Petraeus as the new
commander of United States and allied forces in Iraq. During
his confirmation hearings, General Petraeus addressed the
negative consequences a premature withdrawal would have on
United States interests and regional stability, as well as the
positive encouragement a congressionally-passed resolution of
disapproval regarding the new strategy would have on United
States enemies operating in Iraq.
(14) In addition, General Petraeus, as he himself has
stated, cannot accomplish his new mission without the
deployment of the additional troops, which would reinforce
United States and allied forces. It is not in the best national
security interests of the United States to support unanimously
a new commanding general given his mission and then deny him
the resources to be successful in that mission.
(15) Despite policy disagreements, all Members of Congress
support the members of the United States Armed Forces, who have
served honorably in their mission to fight terrorism and to
protect the security of the United States.
(16) The members of the Armed Forces and their families
have made sacrifices, in many cases the ultimate sacrifice, to
protect the security of the United States and the freedom of
its citizens.
(17) Failure to fully provide resources to military forces
deployed in support of operations in Iraq will negatively
impact our troops' morale and result in increasing casualties
and make the mission to secure Iraq impossible.
SEC. 3. CERTIFICATION RELATING TO EFFORTS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ.
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
and every 30 days thereafter, the President shall transmit to the
appropriate congressional committees a certification that contains a
determination of the President of the extent to which--
(1) the Government of Iraq is fully cooperating with United
States stability efforts in Iraq; and
(2) the Government of Iraq has taken effective steps and
made demonstrable progress toward--
(A) completing the process of purging from its
security services those individuals with ties to
insurgents, sectarian militias, and terrorism;
(B) developing and implementing a rotation schedule
that allows all Iraqi Army battalions to participate in
operations in battlefield conditions, such as those
combat conditions found in Baghdad and al Anbar
Province;
(C) denying terrorists and their state-sponsors,
particularly Iran and Syria, the use of Iraqi territory
as a terrorist sanctuary;
(D) developing and implementing a strategy to
promote tolerance, peace, and co-existence among
Iraqis, which should particularly address how to
decrease sectarian tensions and violence;
(E) providing and ensuring equal access to
resources to all Iraqis and augmenting the capability
of reconstruction programs and economic institutions;
(F) adopting reforms to promote justice, equality,
and the rule of law, and ensuring financial and
transparent accountability of all Iraqi Government
ministries and operations; and
(G) cooperating and coordinating internationally to
help stabilize Iraq.
SEC. 4. REPORT.
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
and every 30 days thereafter, the President shall transmit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report that--
(1) details the progress in the implementation of the Iraq
strategy, ``A New Way Forward,'' announced by the President on
January 10, 2007;
(2) details the progress of the Government of Iraq in
meeting the benchmarks described in section 3 of this Act;
(3) identifies the level of combat experience of all Iraqi
Army battalions, provides details on the development and
implementation of a rotation schedule to ensure that all Iraqi
Army battalions experience combat operations in battlefield
conditions, and identifies the extent to which the Iraqi
Ministry of Defense has deployed Iraqi military units that are
needed to secure Baghdad and al Anbar Province;
(4) tracks expenditures of Iraqi funds, which are allocated
for the Iraqi Army, for the purpose of equipping the Iraqi
Army;
(5) measures the effectiveness of the police force in
Baghdad using normally accepted crime statistics;
(6) assesses the contributions by allies of the United
States to provide support to the Government and people of Iraq;
and
(7) identifies the steps the Government of the United
States is taking to hold the Government of Iraq accountable in
meeting the benchmarks described in section 3 of this Act and
in providing funding for the Provincial Reconstruction Teams in
Iraq.
SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY ASSESSMENT.
(a) Interagency Assessment Required.--The President shall require
all relevant departments and agencies of the Government of the United
States to conduct an interagency assessment of the impact that
withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from Iraq would have on the
national security and homeland security interests of the United States,
as well as an assessment on the impact that such a withdrawal would
have for United States allies in the region.
(b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the President shall transmit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report that contains the results of the
interagency assessment conducted under subsection (a).
SEC. 6. SELECT BIPARTISAN COMMITTEE TO MONITOR UNITED STATES POLICY AND
STRATEGY FOR IRAQ.
(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established in the House of
Representatives the Select Bipartisan Committee to Monitor United
States Policy and Strategy for Iraq (hereinafter referred to as the
``select committee'').
(b) Composition.--
(1) In general.--The select committee shall be composed of
10 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, of whom 5 members shall be appointed upon the
recommendation of the minority leader of the House of
Representatives. The Speaker shall designate one member as
chairman of the select committee.
(2) Ex officio members.--The Speaker and the minority
leader of the House of Representatives shall be ex officio
members of the select committee but shall have no vote in the
select committee and may not be counted for purposes of
determining a quorum. The Speaker and the minority leader each
may designate a leadership staff member to assist in their
capacity as ex officio members, with the same access to select
committee meetings, hearings, briefings, and materials as
employees of the select committee and subject to the same
security clearance and confidentiality requirements as staff of
the select committee.
(c) Duties.--
(1) In general.--The select committee is authorized and
directed to monitor the implementation of this Act and to study
proposals from relevant committees of the House of
Representatives, the executive branch, and private sector
entities and individuals as the select committee considers
appropriate concerning the development of United States policy
and strategy to assist Iraq to achieve a stable, democratic
government and security forces capable of establishing and
maintaining security and stability.
(2) Report.--Not later than 180 legislative days after the
date on which all members of the select committee have been
appointed pursuant to subsection (b)(1), the select committee
shall submit to the House of Representatives a report that
contains a summary of the activities of the select committee
carried out under paragraph (1) and any findings or
recommendations relating to such activities.
(d) Procedure.--Rule XI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, including the items referred to in the following
paragraphs, shall apply to the select committee:
(1) Clause 2(j)(1) of rule XI (guaranteeing the minority
additional witnesses).
(2) Clause 2(m)(3) of rule XI (providing for the authority
to subpoena witnesses and documents).
In addition, access by the select committee to classified information
and other national security information shall be conducted consistent
with the Rules of the House of Representatives.
(e) Joint Operations.--The chairman of the select committee, in
carrying out the duties described in subsection (c), shall consult with
the chairman of a Senate committee conducting duties similar to the
duties described in subsection (c) regarding meeting jointly to receive
testimony, the scheduling of hearings or issuance of subpoenas, and
joint staff interviews of key witnesses.
(f) Staff; Funding.--
(1) Staff.--
(A) Use of existing house staff.--To the greatest
extent practicable, the select committee shall utilize
the services of staff of employing entities of the
House of Representatives. At the request of the
chairman in consultation with the ranking minority
member, staff of employing entities of the House of
Representatives or a joint committee may be detailed to
the select committee to carry out this section and
shall be deemed to be staff of the select committee.
(B) Other staff.--The chairman, upon consultation
with the ranking minority member, may employ and fix
the compensation of such staff as the chairman
considers necessary to carry out this resolution.
(2) Funding.--There shall be paid out of the applicable
accounts of the House of Representatives $500,000 for the
expenses of the select committee. Such payments shall be made
on vouchers signed by the chairman and approved in the manner
directed by the Committee on House Administration. Amounts made
available under this paragraph shall be expended in accordance
with regulations prescribed by the Committee on House
Administration.
(g) Dissolution and Disposition of Records.--
(1) Dissolution.--The select committee shall cease to exist
30 days after filing the report required under subsection
(c)(2).
(2) Disposition of records.--Upon dissolution of the select
committee, the records of the select committee shall become the
records of any committee of the House of Representatives
designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee
on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
the Committee on Homeland Security, the Permanent
Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Select
Bipartisan Committee to Monitor United States Policy
and Strategy for Iraq (established under section 6 of
this Act) of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee
on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations,
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of
the Senate.
(2) Legislative day.--The term ``legislative day'' means
any calendar day during which the House of Representatives is
in session.
(3) Terrorist sanctuary.--The term ``terrorist sanctuary''
has the meaning given the term in section 140(d)(5) of the
Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989
(22 U.S.C. 2656f(d)(5) (as added by section 7102(d)(3) of the
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004
(Public Law 108-458)).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, 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.
Committee Hearings Held.
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