[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 24 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. J. RES. 24

  Requiring the President to report to Congress specific information 
 relating to certain possible consequences of the use of United States 
                       Armed Forces against Iraq.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 25, 2003

    Mr. Brown of Ohio (for himself, Mrs. Tauscher, and Mr. Hoeffel) 
 introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
  Requiring the President to report to Congress specific information 
 relating to certain possible consequences of the use of United States 
                       Armed Forces against Iraq.

Whereas Saddam Hussein is a repressive dictator who has demonstrated through his 
        own actions, including the invasion of Kuwait and the oppression of the 
        Iraqi people, that it is necessary for the international community to 
        ensure his conduct is in accordance with international law;
Whereas on September 12, 2002, President Bush committed the United States to 
        ``work with the United Nations Security Council to meet our common 
        challenge'' posed by Iraq and to ``work for the necessary resolutions'', 
        while also making clear that ``the Security Council resolutions will be 
        enforced, and the just demands of peace and security will be met, or 
        action will be unavoidable'';
Whereas the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 
        2002 (Public Law 107-243; 116 Stat. 1498), enacted into law on October 
        16, 2002, authorizes the President to use United States Armed Forces to 
        defend the national security of the United States against the threat 
        posed by Iraq and to enforce all relevant United Nations Security 
        Council resolutions regarding Iraq;
Whereas section 2 of Public Law 107-243 calls on the President to obtain prompt 
        and decisive action by the United Nations Security Council to ensure 
        that Iraq complies with all such relevant Security Council resolutions;
Whereas Congress recognizes the efforts of the President to obtain unanimous 
        approval for United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441 (2002) 
        which affords Iraq ``a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament 
        obligations under relevant resolutions of the Council'';
Whereas section 4 of Public Law 107-243 states that ``the President shall, at 
        least once every 60 days, submit to the Congress a report on matters 
        relevant to this joint resolution, including actions taken pursuant to 
        the exercise of authority granted in section 3 [to use the Armed Forces 
        against Iraq] and the status of planning for efforts that are expected 
        to be required after such actions are completed'';
Whereas section 3 of the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148) states that 
        ``[t]he President in every possible instance shall consult with Congress 
        before introducing United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into 
        situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly 
        indicated by the circumstances'';
Whereas section 3(b) of Public Law 107-243 states that ``[i]n connection with 
        the exercise of the authority granted in subsection (a) to use force the 
        President shall, prior to such exercise'' make available to Congress his 
        determination that ``acting pursuant to this joint resolution is 
        consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take 
        the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist 
        organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who 
        planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that 
        occurred on September 11, 2001'';
Whereas section 4(b) of the War Powers Resolution states that ``[t]he President 
        shall provide such other information as the Congress may request in the 
        fulfillment of its constitutional responsibilities with respect to 
        committing the Nation to war''; and
Whereas additional information needed for Congress to fulfill its constitutional 
        responsibilities with respect to committing the Nation to war has not 
        been provided to Congress: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This joint resolution may be cited as the ``Presidential Report on 
Iraq Resolution of 2003''.

SEC. 2. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.

    (a) Report.--The President shall, prior to using United States 
Armed Forces against Iraq pursuant to section 3(a) of the Authorization 
for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 
107-243; 116 Stat. 1498), report to Congress the following:
            (1) A determination that further diplomatic or other 
        peaceful means will not adequately protect the national 
        security of the United States against the threat posed by Iraq.
            (2) A full accounting of the implications, both positive 
        and negative, of initiating military action against Iraq in 
        regard to homeland security, the war on terrorism, regional 
        stability in the Middle East and the Middle East peace process, 
        and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
            (3) The steps the United States and its allies will take to 
        ensure that any and all weapons of mass destruction and the 
        related knowledge base will be safeguarded from dispersal to 
        other rogue states or international terrorist organizations.
            (4) The United States' plan for achieving long-term social, 
        economic, and political stabilization of a post-conflict Iraq, 
        including a plan to provide humanitarian assistance to the 
        Iraqi people and to ensure respect of their human rights, as 
        well as bringing to justice the individuals responsible for 
        serious violations of international humanitarian and human 
        rights law committed in Iraq.
            (5) The nature and extent of the international support for 
        military action against Iraq and the impact of military action 
        against Iraq on allied support for the broader war on 
        terrorism.
            (6) The steps the United States and its allies will take to 
        protect United States soldiers, allied forces, and Iraqi 
        civilians from any known or suspected environmental hazards 
        resulting from military operations, an estimate of the American 
        and allied military casualties, Iraqi military casualties, and 
        Iraqi civilian casualties resulting from military action 
        against Iraq, and measures that will be taken to prevent 
        civilian casualties and adhere to international humanitarian 
        law.
            (7) An estimate of the full costs associated with military 
        action against Iraq, including, but not limited to, providing 
        humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people and to neighboring nations 
        in light of possible refugee flows, reconstructing Iraq with or 
        without allied support, and securing long-term political 
        stability in Iraq and the region insofar as it is affected by 
        such military action.
            (8) The anticipated short and long term effects of military 
        action on the United Sates economy and the Federal budget.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the report 
required by subsection (a) should be delivered by the President in the 
form of a public address to a joint session of Congress.

SEC. 3. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this joint resolution supersedes any requirement of the 
War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148).
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