I
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2156
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 3, 2007
Mr. Israel (for himself, Mr. Carney, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Mr. Hodes, Mr. Bishop of New York, Mr. Moore of Kansas, and Mr. Perlmutter) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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 a clear accounting of the combat proficiency of the security forces of Iraq.
Findings and declaration of policy
Findings
Congress finds the following:
Congress has appropriated over $15 billion to train and equip the security forces of Iraq since April 2004.
The Administration has reported in the
March 2007 report entitled Measuring Stability and Security in
Iraq
that the number of Iraqi security forces nearing combat
proficiency is 328,700.
The Iraqi security forces continue to be trained to achieve the highest level of combat efficiency in order to provide for the security and stability of the Iraqi people.
Declaration of policy
Congress declares that it shall be the policy of the United States to ensure that—
the security forces of Iraq are trained to achieve the highest level of combat efficiency in order to provide for the security and stability of the Iraqi people;
as each battalion of the Iraqi security forces achieves a level of combat proficiency such that it can conduct independent combat operations without support from Coalition forces in Iraq, a unit of the United States Armed Forces of comparable size will be redeployed from Iraq; and
regular, accurate accounts of the combat proficiency of battalions of the Iraqi security forces are necessary for the American public to gauge the development of the Iraqi security forces.
Report on combat proficiency of Iraqi security forces
Report
The President of the United States shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees each month a report that contains an accounting of the number of battalions of the security forces of Iraq at each level of combat proficiency described in subsection (b).
Levels of combat proficiency
The levels of combat proficiency referred to in subsection (a) are the following:
Level 1 means a battalion that can conduct independent combat operations without support from Coalition forces in Iraq.
Level 2 means a battalion that can conduct independent combat operations, but only with logistical support, or non-combat-related support from Coalition forces in Iraq. The Coalition forces will not help with direct combat in support of the battalion.
Level 3 means a battalion that can participate in combat operations alongside Coalition forces, but cannot conduct independent combat operations without direct combat support from Coalition forces in Iraq.
Level 4 means a battalion that cannot participate in combat operations, even with support from Coalition forces in Iraq.
Comparison of data
The report shall include a comparison of data from each previous report with respect to each battalion of the security forces of Iraq.
Public notification
The President shall ensure that each report required by this section is made available on the main public Internet Web site of the Department of Defense not later than 10 days after the date on which the report is transmitted to the appropriate congressional committees, and that a link to the accounting in the report is made available on the homepage of such Internet Web site.
Definition
As used in this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means—
the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and
the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate.
Effective date
The requirement to transmit and make available reports under this section shall apply with respect to the first month beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act and to each subsequent month thereafter until the President determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the security forces of Iraq have achieved combat proficiency to the extent necessary to combat the insurgency in Iraq.