Extends gratitude to the more than 1.5 million members of the U.S. Armed Forces, from both the regular and reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine, who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.
Recognizes their success in operations against a dangerous and determined enemy.
Recognizes the tremendous personal sacrifice of those who served in such Operations, many of whom were committed to multiple deployments, and the contributions of military families on the home front.
Pays tribute to the 4,486 members who lost their lives in such Operations, and commits to honoring their memory for their courage and sacrifice.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 128 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 128
Honoring the service and sacrifice of members of the United States
Armed Forces on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the start of
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 19, 2013
Mr. Hunter (for himself, Mr. Turner, Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mr.
Kinzinger of Illinois, Mr. Peters of California, Ms. Duckworth, Mr.
Grimm, Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia, Mr. Gibson, Mrs. Hartzler, Mr.
Murphy of Pennsylvania, Mr. Conaway, Mr. Coffman, Mr. Gallego, Mr.
Wittman, and Mr. Stivers) submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Honoring the service and sacrifice of members of the United States
Armed Forces on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the start of
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.
Whereas in Public Law 107-243 (H.J. Res 114 of the 107th Congress), the House of
Representatives and the Senate authorized the President to use the
United States Armed Forces as the President determined to be necessary
and appropriate against Iraq;
Whereas, on March 19, 2003, the United States Armed Forces began military
operations in Iraq, with the objective of disarming and removing Saddam
Hussein and his regime;
Whereas, on April 9, 2003, with the removal of a statue of Saddam Hussein in
Firdos Square in Baghdad by members of the United States Armed Forces
and Iraqi civilians, the United States Armed Forces and coalition forces
effectively neutralized the Iraqi Army just three weeks after ground
operations began;
Whereas, on July 22, 2003, after refusing to surrender, Saddam Hussein's sons
Uday Hussein and Qusay Hussein were killed in a firefight with members
of the United States Armed Forces in Mosul;
Whereas, on December 13, 2003, acting on information provided through
coordinated intelligence activity, members of the United States Armed
Forces captured Saddam Hussein in Tikrit;
Whereas in 2004, in direct response to an insurgent uprising in Fallujah,
approximately 15,000 members of the United States Armed Forces and
coalition forces entered the insurgent stronghold and reclaimed the
city;
Whereas, on October 15, 2005, the new Constitution of Iraq was ratified and two
months later the first election for the Iraqi Council of Representatives
was facilitated;
Whereas, on June 7, 2006, in a significant blow to the insurgent campaign, a
United States Air Force airstrike near Baquba killed Abu Musab al-
Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq;
Whereas, on January 10, 2007, with the number of members of the United States
Armed Forces in Iraq totaling approximately 140,000, a surge of 21,000
American troops was announced under the banner of ``A New Way Forward'';
Whereas, on June 1, 2007, in what was called ``The Awakening'', Sunni tribe
members joined the United States Armed Forces and coalition forces in
targeting militants in Anbar Province and other locations, leading to a
significant decrease in insurgent violence;
Whereas, on September 1, 2008, the United States Armed Forces in Anbar Province
formally transferred security responsibilities to Iraqi forces;
Whereas, on February 1, 2009, reductions in the number of members of the United
States Armed Forces serving in Iraq began;
Whereas, on June 30, 2009, the United States Armed Forces withdrew from Baghdad
and other cities in accordance with the Status of Forces Agreement
between the United States and the Government of Iraq;
Whereas, on March 7, 2010, with the support of the United States Armed Forces
and coalition forces, Iraqi parliamentary elections are held under the
control of Iraqi security forces, with voter turnout registering above
60 percent;
Whereas in September 2010, the remaining combat forces of the United States
Armed Forces departed from Iraq, prompting the redesignation of the
contingency operation from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New
Dawn;
Whereas, on December 18, 2011, all remaining members of the United States Armed
Forces departed from Iraq;
Whereas between March 2003 and December 2011, more than 1.5 million members of
the United States Armed Forces served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and
Operation New Dawn;
Whereas 4,486 members of the United States Armed Forces made the ultimate
sacrifice while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New
Dawn and more than 32,000 members of the United States Armed Forces were
wounded during almost nine years of military operations in Iraq;
Whereas four Medals of Honor, the highest United States award for military
valor, were awarded for service in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation
New Dawn;
Whereas at least 327 Silver Stars, 21 Navy Crosses, and 15 Distinguished Service
Crosses were awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for
gallantry in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn; and
Whereas March 19, 2013, is the 10th anniversary of the start of United States
military operations in Iraq as Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New
Dawn: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) extends its gratitude to the more than 1.5 million
members of the United States Armed Forces, from both the
regular and reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force,
Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine, who served in
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn;
(2) recognizes the success of the United States Armed
Forces in operations against a dangerous and determined enemy;
(3) recognizes the tremendous personal sacrifice of the
members of the United States Armed Forces who served in
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, many of whom
were committed to multiple deployments away from loved ones,
and the contributions of military families on the homefront;
(4) pays tribute to the 4,486 members of the United States
Armed Forces who lost their lives in Operation Iraqi Freedom
and Operation New Dawn; and
(5) commits itself to honoring the memory of these heroes
for their courage and sacrifice.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
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