IV 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1695 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 29, 2010 Mr. Hastings of Florida submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Encouraging elected officials and political leaders in the Republic of Iraq to redouble their efforts to form a government that is just, representative, and accountable to the people of Iraq.

Whereas the people of the United States stand in solidarity with the people of the Republic of Iraq as Iraqis seek peace and stability, democracy, and economic prosperity for themselves and for their children; Whereas, on January 30, 2005, the people of Iraq elected the 275-member National Assembly which created the Transitional Government of Iraq and directed the drafting of a new Constitution of Iraq; Whereas, on January 30, 2005, the people of Iraq also elected provincial councils in 18 governorates throughout Iraq and on October 15, 2005, again went to the polls and ratified the proposed Constitution of Iraq; Whereas pursuant to the new Constitution of Iraq, a general election was held on December 15, 2005, to elect a permanent 275-member Council of Representatives; Whereas governorate and provincial elections were held in Iraq on January 31, 2009, to replace the local councils in 14 of the 18 governorates of Iraq that were elected in the governorate elections of 2005; Whereas, on November 26, 2007, United States President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Kamel Al-Maliki signed a Declaration of Principles for a Long-Term Relationship of Cooperation and Friendship Between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America; Whereas, on November 17, 2008, United States Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, and Iraq Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari signed both the Strategic Framework Agreement for a Relationship of Friendship and Cooperation between the United States and the Republic of Iraq, and the Agreement Between the United States of America and the Republic of Iraq On the Withdrawal of United States Forces from Iraq and the Organization of Their Activities During Their Temporary Presence in Iraq; Whereas pursuant to those agreements, on June 30, 2009, the United States Armed Forces withdrew from all cities, villages, and localities in Iraq, and Iraqi forces moved into a leadership role with skill and commitment to the citizens of Iraq; Whereas, on August 31, 2010, the United States ended its combat mission in Iraq and began a new phase in its relationship with the Government and people of Iraq in support of their efforts to continue to consolidate democracy, promote economic prosperity, and secure peace and stability in Iraq, the region, and the world; Whereas Iraq’s proven oil reserves rank third in the world and provide an important source of government revenue needed for Iraq’s economic future; Whereas the Government of Iraq has made positive strides in seeking to generate revenue from its substantial oil reserves by conducting an international bidding and contracting process for oil field services, it has not yet enacted comprehensive oil and gas sector framework and revenue-sharing legislation; Whereas Iraq has recognized that transparency in oil and gas revenue is critical to ensuring the maximum impact of these revenues and in February 2010 became an implementing country of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI); Whereas more than 2,000,000 citizens of Iraq are displaced both within and outside of the country and their children are not able to go to school; Whereas while violence in Iraq has decreased in recent years it remains a threat with more than 1900 civilians killed and 3800 wounded in random attacks since January 2010; and Whereas, on March 7, 2010, the people of Iraq elected 325 members of the Council of Representatives who must select the Prime Minister and President pursuant to the Constitution of Iraq: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)encourages all elected officials and political leaders in the Republic of Iraq to redouble their efforts to form a new government as soon as possible that is just, representative, and accountable to the people of Iraq, and which is capable of continuing to build the skills and effectiveness of Iraq’s security forces; (2)condemns the cowardly attacks on innocent civilians perpetrated by terrorist thugs operating in Iraq; (3)urges the Government of Iraq to increase support for its displaced citizens within Iraq and those currently living in countries in the region and around the world, and to ensure that their children have access to education; and (4)encourages the Government of Iraq to continue to develop its oil and gas resources in order to meet development needs, including by enacting comprehensive oil and gas sector framework and revenue-sharing legislation, and by wholehearted implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and other measures to ensure the transparent functioning of the oil and gas sector.