[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 102 (Tuesday, June 18, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S3753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 720. Mr. PAUL (for himself and Mr. Udall) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1790, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2020 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel 
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of title XV, add the following:

        Subtitle C--Withdrawal of Armed Forces From Afghanistan

     SEC. 1531. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The Joint Resolution to authorize the use of United 
     States Armed Forces against those responsible for the attacks 
     launched against the United States (Public Law 107-40) 
     states, ``That the President is authorized to use all 
     necessary and appropriate force against those nations, 
     organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, 
     committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on 
     September 11, 2001''.
       (2) Since 2001, more than 3,002,635 men and women of the 
     United States Armed Forces have deployed in support of the 
     Global War on Terrorism, with more than 1,400,000 of them 
     deploying more than once, and these Americans who volunteered 
     in a time of war have served their country honorably and with 
     distinction.
       (3) In November 2009 there were fewer than 100 Al-Qaeda 
     members remaining in Afghanistan.
       (4) On May 2, 2011, Osama Bin Laden, the founder of Al-
     Qaeda, was killed by United States Armed Forces in Pakistan.
       (5) United States Armed Forces have successfully routed Al-
     Qaeda from the battlefield in Afghanistan, thus fulfilling 
     the original intent of Public Law 107-40 and the 
     justification for the invasion of Afghanistan, but public 
     support for United States continued presence in Afghanistan 
     has waned in recent years.
       (6) An October 2018 poll found that 57 percent of 
     Americans, including 69 percent of United States veterans, 
     believe that all United States troops should be removed from 
     Afghanistan.
       (7) In June 2018, the Department of Defense reported, ``The 
     al-Qa'ida threat to the United States and its allies and 
     partners has decreased and the few remaining al-Qa'ida core 
     members are focused on their own survival''.

     SEC. 1532. WITHDRAWAL OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM 
                   AFGHANISTAN.

       (a) Plan Required.--Not later than 45 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, or 
     designee, in cooperation with the heads of all other relevant 
     Federal agencies involved in the conflict in Afghanistan 
     shall--
       (1)(A) formulate a plan for the orderly drawdown and 
     withdrawal of all soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines from 
     Afghanistan who were involved in operations intended to 
     provide security to the people of Afghanistan, including 
     policing action, or military actions against paramilitary 
     organizations inside Afghanistan, excluding members of the 
     military assigned to support United States embassies or 
     consulates, or intelligence operations authorized by 
     Congress; and
       (B) appear before the relevant congressional committees to 
     explain the proposed implementation of the plan formulated 
     under subparagraph (A); and
       (2)(A) formulate a framework for political reconciliation 
     and popular democratic elections independent of United States 
     involvement in Afghanistan, which may be used by the 
     Government of Afghanistan to ensure that any political party 
     that meets the requirements under Article 35 of the 
     Constitution of Afghanistan is permitted to participate in 
     general elections; and
       (B) appear before the relevant congressional committees to 
     explain the proposed implementation of the framework 
     formulated under subparagraph (A).
       (b) Removal and Bonuses.--Not later than one year after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act--
       (1) all United States Armed Forces in Afghanistan as of 
     such date of enactment shall be withdrawn and removed from 
     Afghanistan; and
       (2) the Secretary of Defense shall provide all members of 
     the United States Armed Forces who were deployed in support 
     of the Global War on Terror with a $2,500 bonus to recognize 
     that these Americans have served in the Global War On 
     Terrorism exclusively on a volunteer basis and to demonstrate 
     the heartfelt gratitude of our Nation.
       (c) Repeal of Authorization for Use of Military Force.--The 
     Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40) 
     is repealed effective on the earlier of--
       (1) the date that is 395 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this joint resolution: or
       (2) the date on which the Secretary of Defense certifies 
     that all United States Armed Forces involved in operations or 
     military actions in Afghanistan (as described in subsection 
     (a)(1)(A)) have departed from Afghanistan.
                                 ______