[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 70 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. J. RES. 70
Requiring the President to submit to Congress a plan for the withdrawal
of United States Armed Forces from Iraq, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 25, 2005
Mr. Price of North Carolina (for himself and Mr. Miller of North
Carolina) introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred
to the Committee on International Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
Requiring the President to submit to Congress a plan for the withdrawal
of United States Armed Forces from Iraq, and for other purposes.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) United States Armed Forces initiated combat operations
against the military of the Saddam Hussein regime on March 19,
2003, and concluded those operations in April 2004 with the
defeat of the Iraqi military and the collapse of the Hussein
regime.
(2) United States Armed Forces personnel have remained in
Iraq since the beginning of combat operations, and now number
approximately 148,000.
(3) United States Armed Forces personnel have served with
great distinction and valor in Iraq, and have earned the
commendation and thanks of the United States Congress and the
American people.
(4) An interim government of Iraq assumed sovereignty at
the end of June 2004, and conducted an election on January 30,
2005, for a transitional National Assembly to draft a permanent
constitution for Iraq.
(5) The Iraqi people ratified the permanent constitution by
a referendum conducted on October 15, 2005, and parliamentary
elections under that constitution are now scheduled for
December 15, 2005.
(6) The President has failed to state clearly the mission
of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq or to set forth a
specific plan or a time frame for accomplishing that mission.
(7) That failure has contributed to a belief among Iraqis
that the United States intends to occupy Iraq on a long term
basis, which has fueled an insurgency with escalating violence.
(8) The ratification of the Iraqi constitution and the
scheduled parliamentary elections are critical steps in
establishing a functional, stable government in Iraq, and
present an opportunity for the United States to establish a
plan to withdraw United States Armed Forces from Iraq that
would support the legitimacy of the Iraqi Government and the
assumption of responsibility by Iraqi forces for security and
public safety.
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
Congress declares that it is the policy of the United States--
(1) to begin withdrawing United States Armed Forces from
Iraq;
(2) to recognize the elected Government of Iraq as the
legitimate government of a fully sovereign country with control
over its natural resources, security, and public safety within
its borders;
(3) to accelerate the training of Iraqi forces able to
provide for the security of Iraq, and to urge the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization, other international
organizations, and other countries to participate in that
training;
(4) to complete the withdrawal of United States Armed
Forces personnel occupying Iraq in an orderly manner,
relinquishing to the Government of Iraq full responsibility for
maintaining security and public safety;
(5) to transfer to Iraqi security forces all bases now used
by United States Armed Forces, and to maintain no permanent
bases or other long term United States military presence in
Iraq;
(6) to support reconstruction efforts by the Government of
Iraq and to help involve the international community in those
and other stabilization efforts;
(7) to provide diplomatic and political support to the
Government of Iraq to achieve stability and an enduring
democracy; and
(8) to prosecute without quarter a war on terrorist
organizations and networks around the world.
SEC. 3. REQUIREMENTS TO IMPLEMENT POLICY.
Not later than 30 days after agreement on this Joint Resolution,
the President shall submit to Congress a report on the President's plan
to implement the policy described in section 2. The report shall
describe--
(1) a plan for withdrawing United States Armed Forces from
Iraq, including--
(A) a date for an initial withdrawal of forces;
(B) the expected time period for completing the
withdrawal; and
(C) any circumstances deemed relevant to completing
the withdrawal; and
(2) the remaining mission of United States Armed Forces in
Iraq, including--
(A) the plan to achieve that mission; and
(B) an explanation of how that mission advances the
timely withdrawal of United States Armed Forces.
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