[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4020 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4020
To recognize the extraordinary performance of the Armed Forces in
achieving the military objectives of the United States in Iraq, to
encourage the President to issue a proclamation calling upon the people
of the United States to observe a national day of celebration
commemorating military success in Iraq, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 31, 2007
Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas (for herself, Mr. Filner, and Mr. Hastings of
Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on
Foreign Affairs and Veterans' Affairs, 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 extraordinary performance of the Armed Forces in
achieving the military objectives of the United States in Iraq, to
encourage the President to issue a proclamation calling upon the people
of the United States to observe a national day of celebration
commemorating military success in Iraq, 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 ``Military Success in Iraq
Commemoration Act of 2007''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The invasion of Iraq by the United States Armed Forces
was one of the best executed military operations in the history
of modern warfare.
(2) The Armed Forces successfully toppled the regime of
Saddam Hussein and captured the key cities of a large nation in
only 21 days.
(3) The Armed Forces in Iraq performed magnificently in
capturing or killing key enemies of the United States,
including key operatives of al Qaida; Tariq Aziz, the former
deputy prime-minister of Iraq; Uday Hussein and Qusay Hussein,
the sons of Saddam Hussein and two of the regime's most
accomplished practitioners of cruelty, barbarism, and terror;
Ali Hassan al-Majid, better known as ``Chemical Ali''; and the
dictator of Baghdad himself, Saddam Hussein.
(4) Because of the skill and dedication of the members of
the Armed Forces, the entire world has now been assured that
Iraq does not possess weapons of mass destruction that could
threaten the United States or any member nation of the
international community.
(5) The success of the military operations conducted by the
Armed Forces in Iraq and the deposing of Saddam Hussein removed
a significant threat to the security of United States allies in
the Middle East region.
(6) The Armed Forces performed magnificently in conducting
military operations designed to ensure that the people of Iraq
enjoy the benefits of a democratically-elected government
governing a county that is capable of sustaining itself
economically and politically and defending itself militarily.
(7) Since March 2003, the Armed Forces have trained more
160,000 Iraqi security personnel.
(8) In June 2004, the Armed Forces facilitated the transfer
of sovereignty from the Coalition Provisional Authority to the
interim Government of Iraq, which governed Iraq until December
2005 when national elections were held in which more than 8
million Iraqi men and women voted in elections that were free
and fair.
(9) In October 2005, Saddam Hussein was captured by the
Armed Forces and turned over to the Government of Iraq to stand
trial on charges of crimes against humanity.
SEC. 3. DECLARATIONS OF POLICY CONCERNING ACHIEVEMENT OF THE OBJECTIVES
OF THE AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST
IRAQ RESOLUTION OF 2002.
Congress makes the following declarations of policy:
(1) The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against
Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243; approved on
October 16, 2002) is the basis of authority pursuant to which
the President launched the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.
(2) Public Law 107-243 authorized the President to use
military force against Iraq to achieve the following two
objectives:
(A) To defend the national security of the United
States--
(i) by disarming Iraq of any weapons of
mass destruction that could threaten the
security of the United States and international
peace in the Persian Gulf region;
(ii) by ensuring that the regime of Saddam
Hussein would not provide weapons of mass
destruction to international terrorists,
including al Qaida;
(iii) by changing the Iraqi regime so that
Saddam Hussein and his Baathist regime no
longer pose a threat to the people of Iraq or
Iraq's neighbors; and
(iv) by bringing to justice any members of
al Qaida bearing responsibility for the attacks
on the United States, its citizens, and
interests, including the attacks that occurred
on September 11, 2001, known or found to be in
Iraq.
(B) To enforce all relevant United Nations Security
Council resolutions regarding Iraq.
(3) The objectives of Public Law 107-243 described in
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2) have in fact been
achieved.
SEC. 4. PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL DAY OF CELEBRATION COMMEMORATING
MILITARY SUCCESS IN IRAQ.
Congress encourages the President to issue a proclamation calling
upon the people of the United States to observe a national day of
celebration commemorating military success in Iraq.
SEC. 5. GRANTS FOR STATE AND LOCAL ACTIVITIES COMMEMORATING MILITARY
SUCCESS IN IRAQ.
(a) Grants.--The Secretary of Defense may award grants to State and
local governments for the following purposes:
(1) To conduct suitable activities commemorating military
success in Iraq.
(2) To create appropriate memorials honoring those who lost
their lives securing military success in Iraq.
(b) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary of Defense such funds as may be necessary to carry out this
section.
SEC. 6. GRANTS FOR VETERANS OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.
(a) Grants.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall award to each
veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom a grant in the amount of $5,000. The
purpose of the grant is to facilitate the veteran's transition to
civilian life.
(b) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs such funds as may be necessary to carry
out this section.
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