S.Amdt. 2146

SA 2146. Mr. BYRD (for himself, Mrs. Clinton, and Mr. Sanders) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of title XV, add the following:

SEC. 1535. EXPIRATION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST IRAQ.

(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:

(1) The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243) authorized the President to use force in Iraq for two limited purposes: to defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and to enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.

(2) The Government of Iraq identified in the resolution has been removed and no longer poses a threat to the national security of the United States and has been replaced with a democratically-elected government.

(3) The situation in Iraq in 2007 is vastly different than it was in 2002, and involves an internal sectarian conflict rather than a dictatorial regime hostile to the United States.

(b) Expiration.--Section 3 of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243; 116 Stat. 1501; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:

“(d) Expiration.--

“(1) In general.--The authorization in subsection (a) shall expire on October 11, 2007.

“(2) Construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as--

“(A) denying the United States Armed Forces the capacity to act in self-defense or in protection of the United States Embassy in Baghdad and its personnel;

“(B) precluding the President from withdrawing the United States Armed Forces from Iraq at any time before October 11, 2007, if circumstances warrant;

“(C) precluding Congress by joint resolution from directing such a withdrawal; or

“(D) preventing missions that are specifically permitted in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008.

“(e) New Authority.--In order to conduct military operations in Iraq that do not relate to the withdrawal of members of the United States Armed Forces after the date specified in subsection (d)(1), the President shall be required to request from Congress specific new authority, and to articulate in detail the mission, strategy, and goals of a continued United States military presence in Iraq.”.

(c) Availability of Funds for Safe and Orderly Redeployment.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any funds made available by any Act for the Department of Defense are immediately available for obligation and expenditure to plan and execute a safe and orderly redeployment of the United States Armed Forces from Iraq.