[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4983 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4983

To recognize the exemplary service of the National Guard in Iraq and to 
    direct the President to begin the redeployment of United States 
     military forces from Iraq, starting with National Guard units.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 16, 2006

Mr. Blumenauer introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on International Relations, 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 recognize the exemplary service of the National Guard in Iraq and to 
    direct the President to begin the redeployment of United States 
     military forces from Iraq, starting with National Guard units.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``First Step to Redeployment Act of 
2006''.

SEC. 2. RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL GUARD.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The men and women of the United States Armed Forces 
        have carried out their mission in Iraq with courage, 
        professionalism, and honor.
            (2) Units and personnel of the National Guard have been a 
        major component of United States military forces in Iraq.
            (3) Since the start of the occupation of Iraq, the Iraqi 
        people have successfully voted in three elections, approved a 
        constitution, and established a government.
            (4) United States national security interests, as well as 
        the future stability of Iraq, would now be best served by the 
        phased redeployment of United States military forces from Iraq 
        and refocused political, diplomatic, and reconstruction 
        efforts.
            (5) The extended deployments of National Guard units in 
        Iraq have placed an undue burden on the families of members of 
        the National Guard, the communities in which the members live, 
        and the States.
            (6) The National Guard is a critical element of the Total 
        Force concept of the Armed Forces.
            (7) Because of the dual role of the National Guard under 
        the Constitution to both the Federal Government and the various 
        States, including the States' reliance on the National Guard 
        for disaster response and homeland defense, the redeployment of 
        Armed Forces from Iraq should begin with the redeployment of 
        the National Guard.
    (b) Congressional Recognition.--Congress--
            (1) expresses its deep appreciation to the members of the 
        National Guard and all other members of the Armed Forces for 
        their service and commends their achievements, their 
        sacrifices, and the sacrifices of their families;
            (2) declares that there is no more capable soldier than the 
        citizen-soldiers of the National Guard;
            (3) reaffirms the critical role of the National Guard in 
        defending the United States, carrying out combat missions, 
        responding to domestic emergencies and disasters, and securing 
        the homeland;
            (4) recognizes the importance of the National Guard in 
        ensuring a connection between the military and local 
        communities; and
            (5) opposes any attempt to reduce the role of the National 
        Guard within the Total Force concept of the Armed Forces.

SEC. 3. REDEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM IRAQ.

    The President shall begin the redeployment of United States Armed 
Forces from Iraq, starting with the orderly redeployment of National 
Guard units.
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