110 HR 663 IH: To redeploy United States Armed Forces from Iraq and to
U.S. House of Representatives
2007-01-24
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.
1.Short title and table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the New Direction for Iraq Act of 2007
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Goals of United States policy toward Iraq.
Title I—Redeployment of United States Armed Forces from
Iraq
Sec. 101. Prohibition on escalation of United States military
presence in Iraq.
Sec. 102. Redeployment of United States Armed Forces from
Iraq.
Sec. 103. Restoration of Iraqi sovereignty.
Title II—Assistance for Iraq
Sec. 201. Assistance for reconstruction and economic
development.
Sec. 202. Assistance for democracy and civil society
promotion.
Sec. 203. Assistance for militia disarmament, demobilization,
and reintegration.
Sec. 204. Federal contracts for Iraq
reconstruction.
Title III—Diplomatic efforts
Sec. 301. Regional and international diplomacy.
Sec. 302. Internal Iraq diplomacy.
Sec. 303. Refugees from Iraq.
2.Goals of United
States policy toward IraqThe
goals of United States policy toward Iraq are—
(1)to support the
people of Iraq in their desire for security, democratic self-determination, and
an end to the United States occupation of Iraq;
(2)to mitigate
against a worsening of violence in Iraq and seek to prevent, to the extent
possible, additional sectarian violence;
(3)to reestablish
United States international credibility, military readiness, and fiscal
responsibility; and
(4)to refocus on the
threat posed by violent fundamentalists and other real threats to the national
security of the United States.
<enum>I</enum><header>Redeployment of
United States Armed Forces from Iraq</header>
<section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H90945BCF1DDA46FAB339194C08E66C74" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header>Prohibition on
escalation of United States military presence in Iraq</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Funds appropriated or otherwise made
available to the Department of Defense under any provision of law may not be
obligated or expended to increase the number of members of the Armed Forces
serving in Iraq so that the total number of members serving in Iraq at any time
exceeds the number of members serving in Iraq as of the date of the enactment
of this Act unless the increase is specifically authorized by an Act of
Congress.</text>
</section><section id="H14FFBBC258F84111959558B8E1A07907"><enum>102.</enum><header>Redeployment of
United States Armed Forces from Iraq</header>
<subsection id="H5491231589794CD296D692ED83BD793B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Commencement of
redeployment</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall begin the redeployment of
United States Armed Forces from Iraq.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H00D6021E6329444BA51B92AA00BA8711"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Timetable for
completion of redeployment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The redeployment required by subsection (a)
shall be completed in the shortest appropriate time frame, based on the advice
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and detailed plan for the transfer of security
responsibility on a sector-by-sector basis to be negotiated with the
appropriate authorities of the Government of Iraq. It is the sense of Congress
that the phrase <quote>shortest appropriate time frame</quote> should be no
longer than one year.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H4218D2F86E104039AAD45344434F5EE9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Redeployment
locations</header><text>The majority of units of the Armed Forces redeployed
pursuant to subsection (a) should be returned to the United States. Other units
should be redeployed as part of a rapid reaction force in the Middle East, with
the capacity to respond to contingencies in Iraq and in Afghanistan for the
purpose of expanding secured areas and preventing the reemergence of the
Taliban.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H01717A0C497C4A4294B46F88F4E1576"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Mission of armed
forces in Iraq</header><text>Until the redeployment required by subsection (a)
is completed, the mission of the Armed Forces in Iraq should focus on
supporting the Iraqi Army in holding and stabilizing population centers, rather
than using the Armed Forces to engage in combat operations against
insurgents.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H7523EAF53B684B498D6ED7BD00736981"><enum>103.</enum><header>Restoration of
Iraqi sovereignty</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="HC65022B33BD2420B87C92D3878ADD9B4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Prohibition on
permanent United States military installations in Iraq</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No permanent or long-term military
installation, which is designed or intended to be occupied by a unit of the
United States Armed Forces after the redeployment of the Armed Forces from Iraq
pursuant to section 102, may be constructed in Iraq.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HF31733B0DF8144D3B5F140529E4E04D8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Prohibition on
United States actions to control oil resources in Iraq</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No official or representative of the
Government of the United States shall seek to exercise control over the
petroleum infrastructure, petroleum resources, or the economic policies of
Iraq.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Assistance for
Iraq</header>
<section id="H8E3E823F27E24BFE8E46D43150F7007C"><enum>201.</enum><header>Assistance for
reconstruction and economic development</header>
<subsection id="H58465FA5DB224D848416FAD71CF1574"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Requirement to
provide assistance through Iraqi businesses and nationals</header><text>Funds
appropriated or otherwise made available for the reconstruction of Iraq or
economic development in Iraq under any provision of law shall, to the maximum
extent possible and appropriate, be expended through—</text>
<paragraph id="HDFEB222ED62B45B4AEE02D10124BBEAD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Iraqi-owned
businesses, with a preference for small businesses; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H182FB727BE1041C5921DF9EBB77B95A8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>private voluntary
organizations or businesses of any nationality whose Iraq-based staff consists
primarily of individuals who are nationals of Iraq.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H55FFBB19454049DB8CF8CA38647474EC"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of
Congress regarding Iraq Community Action Program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that the Iraq
Community Action Program of the United States Agency for International
Development is an effective economic development program being carried out at
the local level in Iraq and should be greatly expanded.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H8131F9328A0C4A9CA088B2FFB2F5A962"><enum>202.</enum><header>Assistance for
democracy and civil society promotion</header>
<subsection id="H4DBB689A18DF422300617DE9E0284E49"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Assistance</header><text>The
President is authorized to provide assistance for the promotion of democracy
and civil society in Iraq.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H385D00AC37C64F8E8EA85C8FA95242FC"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Activities
supported</header><text>Assistance provided under subsection (a) shall, to the
maximum extent practicable, be used to strengthen participatory, nonpartisan,
multi-ethnic institutions of civil society in Iraq, including labor and trade
unions, chambers of commerce, environmental organizations, peacebuilding and
reconciliation programs, and social and community organizations.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HB39244A3BE5D467593608268D9C6D466"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header>
<paragraph id="HFCCC8FF20EFB428FA71B113D00F6AA8B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>To carry out this section, there are authorized to be
appropriated to the President $40,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007
through 2010.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H95179443C0F44768006543C6C13C9300"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Additional
requirements</header><text>Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization
of appropriations under paragraph (1)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H2A3B7AE7C83548599D3FB3BE9E245D3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>are authorized to
remain available until expended; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEFEC93734FB84FD500AF00577B35C85"><enum>(B)</enum><text>are in addition to
amounts otherwise available for such purposes.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HF27ACBADBD044B308D8F6C4805C11621"><enum>203.</enum><header>Assistance for
militia disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration</header>
<subsection id="HDD9861FBC179438997FB01E1E7C9CF99"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Assistance</header><text>The
President is authorized to provide assistance for the disarmament,
demobilization, and reintegration of militias in Iraq.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H30B3A23F5F194DA2BDA3EF498F5EE619"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Activities
supported</header><text>Assistance provided under subsection (a) shall, to the
maximum extent practicable, be used to support—</text>
<paragraph id="H37A7862A038444FE8C2C45FCE0930059"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the presence of
neutral international experts as advisors to the Government of Iraq on the
processes of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of militias;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDE957E2DC2514895B6D6A0158EC4547C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the establishment
of a single office in the Government of Iraq to coordinate assistance for
disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of militias.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H170D74B644C0482FB4653E00CFBF3608"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Sense of
Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that members and units of
the United States Armed Forces should not carry out or otherwise participate in
activities supported under this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBB9986A49B1B48E58CC5CA0063F6054C"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header>
<paragraph id="H27FA7D0B790D490BA41F680193C13E55"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>To carry out this section, there are authorized to be
appropriated to the President such sums as may be necessary for each of the
fiscal years 2007 through 2010.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF1A7044BC7F645E5009671338F7260C3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Additional
requirements</header><text>Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization
of appropriations under paragraph (1)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7BCEE41B4CD94AAE8B72851F35E82558"><enum>(A)</enum><text>are authorized to
remain available until expended; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H856A11473AEA4AE3899EAE16E9D27DED"><enum>(B)</enum><text>are in addition to
amounts otherwise available for such purposes.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6B4F338FF3564F7DA206F6C285A80214" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>204.</enum><header>Federal contracts
for Iraq reconstruction</header>
<subsection id="H2252AA0D89DB4F3CBF4279C1D766D200"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Termination of
all contracts of contractor not fulfilling terms of one
contract</header><text>In the case of a contractor with more than one contract
awarded by the Federal Government to perform Iraq reconstruction, the President
may terminate all such contracts of the contractor if the contractor is not
fulfilling the terms of one of its contracts for Iraq reconstruction. Any funds
recovered from the termination of such contracts shall be considered to be
funds available for the reconstruction of Iraq or economic development in Iraq
and shall, to the maximum extent possible and appropriate, be expended in
accordance with section 201(a).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HA28E94E2E0F24B7194E115B9B724EB71"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Recovery of
funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It is the sense of
Congress that the President should make aggressive use of the authority to
recover funds from any contracts for Iraq reconstruction that are terminated,
whether terminated pursuant to the authority in subsection (a) or as otherwise
provided by law.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HE9CB03B567CC418D00DC1E632927F499"><enum>(c)</enum><header>War
profiteering</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that the Attorney
General, in consultation with the Secretaries of Defense and State, should
aggressively seek to prosecute any perpetrators of criminal fraud in the
awarding and carrying out of Federal contracts for Iraq reconstruction.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H4E842718252C45718CB94D5BD56EC390"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Congressional
oversight</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that the appropriate
committees of jurisdiction in the House of Representatives and the Senate
should use their full authority to investigate the awarding and carrying out of
contracts by the Government to conduct activities in Iraq regarding the
following matters:</text>
<paragraph id="HF564B38C4006463482AD7FE75271042"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The award of such contracts, including the
solicitation and evaluation of bids or proposals.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H731483C1340040D49FAFF208F14ECE12"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Standards for the
auditing of such contracts.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H58B2F2861AE64D75965BE5E8BC305578"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Procedures for oversight of the performance
of such contracts.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H374E3D83094F4DDF934753D2B2B9FF4"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Forms of payment
and safeguards against money laundering.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAAD4D7980A8B42C98C5D9500FF99CE15"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Accountability of
contractors and Government officials involved in the award and carrying out of
such contracts.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC3FFFC9E76694837A9ACADCD27B9D100"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Penalties for
violations of law and abuses in the awarding and carrying out of such
contracts.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H71891A3451E04B98841ED1733780BE07"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The use of
subcontracts under large, comprehensive contracts.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6A1D98010F3C42A7BA8E16FCD0944907"><enum>(8)</enum><text>The inclusion and
use of small businesses in such contracts, through subcontracts or
otherwise.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Diplomatic
efforts</header>
<section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE81ABC8259DE464097300052D9B6329C"><enum>301.</enum><header>Regional and
international diplomacy</header>
<subsection id="HEBF1F1029F4642CD8844BA59B8EE434"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The President, acting through the Secretary of State and
the Secretary of Defense, shall undertake a regional diplomatic effort to
establish a regional security dialogue to provide support and cooperation in
promoting stability in Iraq. Such an effort shall include direct bilateral
negotiations with all of Iraq’s neighboring countries and other relevant
regional and nonregional governments and international organizations, such as
the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Arab League,
and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H4AA30CBD6F1A4C639E75A16D88D5D683"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Diplomatic
options</header><text>If appropriate, the President, acting through the
Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, shall seek to formalize the
regional security dialogue required under subsection (a) in a multilateral
support group framework and host a regional security conference.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H9731355AF4074A32A7AD8BFA526FFFCC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Sense of
Congress regarding policy</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that the
negotiations and security dialogue required under subsection (a) should not
undermine United States policy in support of the security of Israel, the
sovereignty of Lebanon, or the autonomy of Iraqi Kurds.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H87742F575CBB4A93A974E35FCF801209"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Comprehensive
agreements</header><text>The President, acting through the Secretary of State
and the Secretary of Defense, shall seek to use the negotiations required under
subsection (a) to reach comprehensive agreements with Syria and Iran regarding
ending support for terrorism, nuclear nonproliferation, cessation of violence
against Israel, and other outstanding issues. The President, acting through the
Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense shall further demonstrate a
willingness to provide the necessary security guarantees and economic and
diplomatic incentives for such agreements.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HEEBFF5DD963948C195517087F8D9F600"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Israeli-Palestinian
peace</header>
<paragraph id="H2AB427A2FB064C24B7614EC22E3E16B1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Sense of
Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that United States support
for progress in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is an important factor
for the United States to regain credibility and influence in the Middle
East.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H53385A88E69D4D1AA84EFB598FA50631"><enum>(2)</enum><header>United States
effort</header><text>The President, acting through the Secretary of State and
the Secretary of Defense, shall undertake a renewed effort towards securing
Israeli-Palestinian peace by encouraging negotiations aimed at the
establishment of an independent and contiguous Palestinian state living
alongside a secure Israel in peace, on a basis similar to the parameters for
peace presented to Israel and the Palestinian Authority by former President
Bill Clinton in December 2000 and the unofficial Geneva Accords of 2003.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H595E92AE69DC404CA2CC18214831E6B5"><enum>(f)</enum><header>United
Nations</header><text>The President shall direct the Permanent Representative
of the United States to the United Nations to seek a new resolution in the
United Nations Security Council supporting regional and international
cooperation in promoting stability in Iraq and authorizing renewed United
Nations assistance to promote security and political reconciliation in
Iraq.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H301C483914B140FB87B17322B1C9A14C"><enum>302.</enum><header>Internal Iraq
diplomacy</header>
<subsection id="H304F89F93FA04B0ABC4D00A728CC6B09"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Benchmarks</header><text>The
President, in partnership with the Government of Iraq, shall develop a series
of benchmarks in the areas of national reconciliation, security, and
governance.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H61CFF765A5644510AC3F474C88E64E00"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of
Congress regarding support for the Government of Iraq</header><text>It is the
sense of Congress that further political and economic support for the
Government of Iraq should be conditioned on significant progress towards
achieving the benchmarks referred to in subsection (a).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HAE0DFAE4D55C49A50016CC776529A318"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Special
envoy</header>
<paragraph id="H4393573176DB43A8831ED144D1D00B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Appointment</header><text>Not
later than 15 days after the date determined in subsection (d), the President
shall appoint an individual to serve as Special Envoy for Iraq
Reconciliation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAAB4557F73AD4992AF447ED9DB488F36"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Criteria for
appointment</header><text>An individual appointed under paragraph (1) shall be
of significant stature and shall have the respect and trust of parties within
Iraq.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD04E0F8C9C3048A6ABFD88734FD0A134"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The
Special Envoy shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="HBDD6C924D3364AF791776DA1EB5636F8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>encourage dialogue
between sectarian communities within Iraq with the goal of promoting peace and
national reconciliation;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H202CAB7E12E94EBA900915188D05D54"><enum>(B)</enum><text>engage all
political and military entities, including all militias and insurgents (except
militias and insurgents associated or affiliated in any way or manner with
al-Qaeda) within Iraq in a peace process; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD9270FAF3FF94D0D8274BDE514036100"><enum>(C)</enum><text>encourage
religious and tribal leaders to speak out in favor of peace and
reconciliation.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFCEE9549F1CD4AFFA564F34024BBF23B"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Role of the
United Nations</header><text>The requirement for the President to appoint a
Special Envoy in accordance with subsection (c) shall be satisfied by the
appointment by the United Nations of such a special envoy based on the same
criteria and with the same duties as described in such subsection, provided
such United Nations appointment occurs not later than 30 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1B939065BBB540859700FE1DDFFBAEC7" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>303.</enum><header>Refugees from
Iraq</header>
<subsection id="HA61FA21BAE50400FB4DBF38778A413ED"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Sense of
Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that—</text>
<paragraph id="H9C9A30B6C1434CFCBBE4C2EE753B071C"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the humanitarian impact of the war in Iraq,
particularly the problem of refugees from Iraq, needs greater attention from
the United States Government;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9DB996F9D4704B80834D0029C1B92623"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the United States
should greatly increase the number of refugees from Iraq who are admitted to
the United States and increase the amount of assistance provided to support
Iraqi refugees elsewhere;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBEC9CFA73880444DBD8CABABEEB07599"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the Secretary of
Homeland Security and Secretary of State, as appropriate, should seek to
streamline procedures for the admission to the United States of refugees from
Iraq and ease the burden of applying for refugee status;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6B6E4779965C42E3896B59FF15BD84D0"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the 20,000
unallocated refugee admissions authorized by Presidential Determination No.
2007–1 should be used for refugees from Iraq; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H597B1FE2ED1B4D12B50427C0D6676E68"><enum>(5)</enum><text>special attention
should be given to particularly vulnerable Iraqi refugee populations, including
Iraqis who worked with United States Armed Forces, ethnically mixed families,
and members of religious minority groups.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5B46A9F58FD246EB9441F7FA45EB3893"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Action</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The President, acting through the Secretary
of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State, as appropriate, shall, for any
country containing a significant population of Iraqi refugees—</text>
<paragraph id="H87B2F0FCA4904F52B3959B7E5CF1F010"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">if, appropriate, seek to negotiate a
bilateral refugee resettlement agreement for the purpose of expediting the
admission into the United States of such refugees; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE32FA21D39B8428FABD4B4E7E256F04"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">if the bilateral refugee resettlement
agreement referred to in paragraph (1) is not achievable, devise strategies, in
consultation with the host government and relevant international organizations
and agencies, for the provision of assistance to facilitate the well-being,
safety, and integration into their host environments of such refugees.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6F17C84F4494440F9974855DAD423230"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Sense of
Congress regarding funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It
is the sense of Congress that the President should submit to Congress a
supplemental appropriations request to provide sufficient funding to carry out
subsection (b).</text>
</subsection></section>