[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3797 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3797

  To require the President to seek to institute a regional diplomatic 
           plan for the Middle East, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 10, 2007

 Mr. Price of North Carolina (for himself, Mr. Thompson of California, 
  and Mr. Udall of Colorado) introduced the following bill; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To require the President to seek to institute a regional diplomatic 
           plan for the Middle East, and for other purposes.

    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 ``New Diplomatic Offensive for Iraq 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Iraq's ability to establish stability and security 
        within its borders and defeat terrorist organizations is 
        significantly affected by the actions of neighboring nations 
        and by regional conflicts and events, while other nations in 
        the region have a vested interest in achieving a resolution to 
        the conflict in Iraq.
            (2) On December 6, 2006, the first recommendation released 
        by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group was that the United States, 
        working with the Iraqi Government, should launch a 
        comprehensive New Diplomatic Offensive to deal with the 
        problems in Iraq and in the region before December 31, 2006.
            (3) The Iraq Study Group recommended the following specific 
        goals for the New Diplomatic Offensive:
                    (A) Support the unity and territorial integrity of 
                Iraq.
                    (B) Stop destabilizing interventions and actions by 
                Iraq's neighbors.
                    (C) Secure Iraq's borders, including the use of 
                joint patrols with neighboring countries.
                    (D) Prevent the expansion of the instability and 
                conflict in Iraq beyond its borders.
                    (E) Promote economic assistance, commerce, trade, 
                political support, and, if possible, military 
                assistance for the Iraqi Government from non-
                neighboring Muslim nations.
                    (F) Energize countries to support national 
                political reconciliation in Iraq.
                    (G) Validate Iraq's legitimacy by resuming 
                diplomatic relations, where appropriate, and 
                reestablishing embassies in Baghdad.
                    (H) Assist Iraq in establishing active working 
                embassies in key capitals in the region (for example, 
                in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).
                    (I) Help Iraq reach a mutually-acceptable agreement 
                on Kirkuk.
                    (J) Assist the Iraqi Government in achieving 
                certain security, political, and economic milestones, 
                including better performance on issues such as national 
                reconciliation, equitable distribution of oil revenues, 
                and the dismantling of militias.
            (4) The Iraq Study Group recommended regional involvement 
        in the diplomatic efforts of stabilizing Iraq and the Middle 
        East, including involvement of the five permanent members of 
        the United Nations Security Council.
            (5) On July 22, 2004, the bipartisan National Commission on 
        Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (commonly known as the 
        ``9/11 Commission'') recommended the United States should 
        engage other nations in developing a comprehensive coalition 
        strategy against Islamist terrorism in the Middle East.
            (6) President George W. Bush and his Administration have 
        already undertaken critical elements of such a diplomatic 
        effort, including diplomatic talks with key Iraqi neighbors in 
        Sharm-al-Sheik, Egypt and in Baghdad, Iraq in May 2007, as well 
        as proposing a comprehensive Middle East peace conference.
            (7) Despite these positive actions, significantly more 
        robust diplomatic effort is needed to establish international 
        consensus on achieving security and stability in Iraq, 
        promoting national reconciliation efforts in Iraq, supporting 
        the reconstruction of Iraq, and supporting the sovereignty and 
        territorial integrity of the Iraqi nation.

SEC. 3. MIDDLE EAST REGIONAL DIPLOMACY.

    (a) In General.--As soon as practicable after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the President shall seek to develop and 
implement a regional diplomatic plan, in conjunction with the United 
Nations Security Council, that will attempt to accomplish the following 
objectives:
            (1) Curtail the ongoing civil war in Iraq.
            (2) Prevent the spread of violence from Iraq into 
        neighboring countries.
            (3) Prevent the establishment of safe havens for al-Qa'ida 
        and other terrorist organizations.
            (4) Prevent regional conflict.
            (5) Prevent genocide, ethnic cleansing, and other crimes 
        against humanity.
            (6) Promote a national process of reconciliation within 
        Iraq.
    (b) Statement of United States Policy.--In the implementation of 
the regional diplomatic plan required by subsection (a), it is the 
policy of the United States to--
            (1) undertake a sustained diplomatic effort to engage the 
        governments of nations in the region on the regional diplomatic 
        plan required in subsection (a) and on issues and actions that 
        impact the situation in Iraq;
            (2) continue and expand United States direct bilateral 
        talks with nations neighboring Iraq on issues of mutual 
        interest;
            (3) support the goals specified in the International 
        Compact for Iraq; and
            (4) encourage the increased engagement of international 
        organizations, including the United Nations, the Arab League, 
        and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, in working 
        toward solutions to achieve stability and security in Iraq.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter, the President shall transmit 
to Congress a report on the status of efforts to implement the regional 
diplomatic plan required by subsection (a), including--
            (1) progress being made to accomplish the objectives 
        described in paragraphs (1) through (6) of subsection (a);
            (2) efforts of the United States to promote regional 
        dialogue on Iraq's future, including the organization of 
        regional peace conferences and the establishment of sustained 
        regional structures such as working groups;
            (3) the progress of bilateral discussions with key nations 
        neighboring Iraq;
            (4) the status of pledges of financial assistance for the 
        relief and reconstruction of Iraq made by members of the 
        international community at the Madrid International Conference 
        on Reconstruction in Iraq and other international conferences 
        for the relief and reconstruction of Iraq since March 2003, and 
        the efforts of the United States to encourage nations and 
        organizations to fulfill such pledges; and
            (5) the progress of efforts to address other critical 
        regional issues and conflicts that significantly affect the 
        situation in Iraq.

SEC. 4. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR IRAQ REGIONAL SECURITY.

    (a) Special Envoy for Iraq Regional Security.--Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall 
appoint a Presidential Special Envoy for Iraq Regional Security.
    (b) Duties.--The Presidential Special Envoy appointed pursuant to 
subsection (a) shall have the following duties:
            (1) Carry out, in consultation with the United States 
        Ambassador to Iraq, the Commander of the Multi-National Forces-
        Iraq, and leaders of foreign nations and international 
        organizations, the policy set forth in section 3(b) of this 
        Act.
            (2) Enter into discussions with the Government of Iraq and 
        governments of neighboring countries to support Iraq's efforts 
        to achieve peace and stability and to take necessary actions to 
        prevent regional instability. Such discussions shall include 
        the establishment of security along Iraq's borders, the 
        prevention of entry of weapons and foreign terrorists into 
        Iraq, and cessation of destabilizing actions or interventions 
        from outside Iraq's borders.
            (3) Organize an Iraq Support Group, consisting of 
        representatives of the entities described in paragraph (2), to 
        coordinate regional and international policy in support of 
        Iraq's efforts to achieve peace and stability.
            (4) Work with officials of the Government of Iraq and other 
        domestic stakeholders to organize a forum for negotiations on 
        national reconciliation.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary 
for each of the fiscal years 2008 and 2009.

SEC. 5. COOPERATION WITH INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS.

    (a) International Donors Conference.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of State shall undertake the 
        organization of an international donors conference to solicit 
        additional commitments of funding and support from the 
        international community for ongoing reconstruction and economic 
        development activities in Iraq.
            (2) Leadership of conference.--The international donors 
        conference should be presided over by the Secretary-General of 
        the United Nations or by the head of another international 
        organization, as appropriate.
            (3) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this 
        subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
        as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2008 and 2009.
    (b) United Nations.--The President shall direct the Permanent 
Representative of the United States to the United Nations to consult 
with the United Nations Security Council to institute the regional 
diplomatic plan described in section 3(a) of this Act and to seek a new 
resolution in the United Nations Security Council that--
            (1) supports regional and international cooperation in 
        promoting stability and development in Iraq in accordance with 
        the International Compact with Iraq;
            (2) encourages increased support for and participation in 
        efforts to rebuild and expand Iraq's economy and critical 
        infrastructure; and
            (3) authorizes renewed United Nations assistance to promote 
        security and political reconciliation in Iraq, including a 
        commitment to an increased United Nations role following the 
        beginning of a strategic redeployment of United States Armed 
        Forces personnel from Iraq.
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