110 HR 3087 : To require the Secretary of Defense to U.S. House of Representatives 2007-10-03 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IIB 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3087 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 3, 2007 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services AN ACT To require the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress reports on the status of planning for the redeployment of the Armed Forces from Iraq and to require the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and appropriate senior officials of the Department of Defense to meet with Congress to brief Congress on the matters contained in the reports.

1.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107–243), enacted into law on October 16, 2002, authorized the President to use the Armed Forces as the President determined necessary and appropriate in order to defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by the Government of Iraq at that time. (2)The Government of Iraq which was in power at the time the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 was enacted into law has been removed from power and its leader indicted, tried, convicted, and executed by the new freely-elected democratic Government of Iraq. (3)The current Government of Iraq does not pose a threat to the United States or its interests. (4)After more than four years of valiant efforts by members of the Armed Forces and United States civilians, the Government of Iraq must now be responsible for Iraq’s future course.

2.

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that— (1)nothing in this Act shall be construed as a recommendation by Congress that any particular contingency plan be exercised; (2)it is necessary and prudent for the Department of Defense to undertake robust and comprehensive contingency planning; (3)contingency planning for a redeployment of the Armed Forces from Iraq should address— (A)ensuring appropriate protection for the Armed Forces in Iraq; (B)providing appropriate protection in Iraq for United States civilians, contractors, third party nationals, and Iraqi nationals who have assisted the United States mission in Iraq; (C)maintaining and enhancing the ability of the United States Government to eliminate and disrupt Al Qaeda and affiliated terrorist organizations; and (D)preserving military equipment necessary to defend the national security interests of the United States; and (4)contingency planning for a redeployment of the Armed Forces from Iraq should— (A)describe a range of possible scenarios for such redeployment; (B)outline multiple possible timetables for such redeployment; and (C)describe the possible missions, and the associated projected number of members, of the Armed Forces which would remain in Iraq, including to— (i)conduct United States military operations to protect vital United States national security interests; (ii)conduct counterterrorism operations against Al Qaeda in Iraq and affiliated terrorist organizations; (iii)protect the Armed Forces, United States diplomatic and military facilities, and United States civilians; and (iv)support and equip Iraqi forces to take full responsibility for their own security.

3.

Reports and congressional briefings on the status of planning for the redeployment of the Armed Forces from Iraq

(a)

Reports required

Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the status of planning for the redeployment of the Armed Forces from Iraq. The initial report and each subsequent report required by this subsection shall be submitted in unclassified form, to the maximum extent possible, but may contain a classified annex, if necessary. (b)

Congressional briefings required

Not later than 14 days after the submission of the initial report under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall meet with the congressional defense committees to brief such committees on the matters contained in the report. Not later than 14 days after the submission of each subsequent report under subsection (a), appropriate senior officials of the Department of Defense shall meet with the congressional defense committees to brief such committees on the matters contained in the report. (c)

Termination of reporting and briefing requirements

The requirement to submit reports under subsection (a) and the requirement to provide congressional briefings under subsection (b) shall terminate on the date on which the Secretary of Defense submits to the congressional defense committees a certification in writing that the Armed Forces are no longer primarily engaged in a combat mission in Iraq. (d)

Congressional defense committees defined

In this section, the term congressional defense committees has the meaning given the term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.

4.

Armed Forces defined

In this Act, the term Armed Forces has the meaning given the term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.

Passed the House of Representatives October 2, 2007. Lorraine C. Miller, Clerk.