[House Report 110-283]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]





110th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    110-283

======================================================================


 
TO REQUIRE THE PRESIDENT, IN COORDINATION WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE, 
 THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, AND OTHER SENIOR 
 MILITARY LEADERS, TO DEVELOP AND TRANSMIT TO CONGRESS A COMPREHENSIVE 
  STRATEGY FOR THE REDEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES IN IRAQ

                               __________

                                 REPORT

                                 OF THE

                      COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES

                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                   ON

                               H.R. 3087

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

                                     


                                     

                 July 31, 2007.--Ordered to be printed.


                   HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES

                       One Hundred Tenth Congress

                         IKE SKELTON, Missouri
JOHN SPRATT, South Carolina          DUNCAN HUNTER, California
SOLOMON P. ORTIZ, Texas              JIM SAXTON, New Jersey
GENE TAYLOR, Mississippi             JOHN M. McHUGH, New York
NEIL ABERCROMBIE, Hawaii             TERRY EVERETT, Alabama
SILVESTRE REYES, Texas               ROSCOE G. BARTLETT, Maryland
VIC SNYDER, Arkansas                 HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON, 
ADAM SMITH, Washington                   California
LORETTA SANCHEZ, California          MAC THORNBERRY, Texas
MIKE McINTYRE, North Carolina        WALTER B. JONES, North Carolina
ELLEN O. TAUSCHER, California        ROBIN HAYES, North Carolina
ROBERT A. BRADY, Pennsylvania        JO ANN DAVIS, Virginia
ROBERT ANDREWS, New Jersey           W. TODD AKIN, Missouri
SUSAN A. DAVIS, California           J. RANDY FORBES, Virginia
RICK LARSEN, Washington              JEFF MILLER, Florida
JIM COOPER, Tennessee                JOE WILSON, South Carolina
JIM MARSHALL, Georgia                FRANK A. LoBIONDO, New Jersey
MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO, Guam          TOM COLE, Oklahoma
MARK UDALL, Colorado                 ROB BISHOP, Utah
DAN BOREN, Oklahoma                  MICHAEL TURNER, Ohio
BRAD ELLSWORTH, Indiana              JOHN KLINE, Minnesota
NANCY BOYDA, Kansas                  CANDICE S. MILLER, Michigan
PATRICK J. MURPHY, Pennsylvania      PHIL GINGREY, Georgia
HANK JOHNSON, Georgia                MIKE ROGERS, Alabama
CAROL SHEA-PORTER, New Hampshire     TRENT FRANKS, Arizona
JOE COURTNEY, Connecticut            BILL SHUSTER, Pennsylvania
DAVID LOEBSACK, Iowa                 THELMA DRAKE, Virginia
KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND, New York         CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS, Washington
JOE SESTAK, Pennsylvania             K. MICHAEL CONAWAY, Texas
GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, Arizona          GEOFF DAVIS, Kentucky
ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS, Maryland
KENDRICK B. MEEK, Florida
KATHY CASTOR, Florida
                    Erin C. Conaton, Staff Director


                            C O N T E N T S

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page

Purpose and Background...........................................     3
Legislative History..............................................     3
Hearings.........................................................     3
Section-by-Section Analysis......................................     4
  Section 1--Findings............................................     4
  Section 2--Sense of Congress...................................     4
  Section 3--Reports and Congressional Briefings on the Status of 
    Planning for the Redeployment of the Armed Forces from Iraq..     5
  Section 4--Armed Forces Defined................................     5
Committee Position...............................................     5
Congressional Budget Office Estimate.............................     5
Committee Cost Estimate..........................................     6
Oversight Findings...............................................     6
Statement of Performance Goals and Objectives....................     6
Constitutional Authority Statement...............................     7
Earmarks.........................................................     7
Statement of Federal Mandates....................................     7
Record Votes.....................................................     7
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............     9



110th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    110-283

======================================================================


TO REQUIRE THE PRESIDENT, IN COORDINATION WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE, 
 THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, AND OTHER SENIOR 
 MILITARY LEADER, TO DEVELOP AND TRANSMIT TO CONGRESS A COMPREHENSIVE 
    STRATEGY FOR REDEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES IN IRAQ

                                _______
                                

 July 31, 2007.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

   Mr. Skelton, from the Committee on Armed Services, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 3087]

  [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]*COM007*

  The Committee on Armed Services, to whom was referred the 
bill (H.R. 3087) to require the President, in coordination with 
the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff, and other senior military leaders, to develop 
and transmit to Congress a comprehensive strategy for the 
redeployment of United States Armed Forces in Iraq, having 
considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments 
and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.
    The amendments are as follows:
    Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

  Congress finds the following:
          (1) The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq 
        Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243), enacted into law on 
        October 16, 2002, authorized the President to use the Armed 
        Forces as the President determined necessary and appropriate in 
        order to defend the national security of the United States 
        against the continuing threat posed by the Government of Iraq 
        at that time.
          (2) The Government of Iraq which was in power at the time the 
        Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution 
        of 2002 was enacted into law has been removed from power and 
        its leader indicted, tried, convicted, and executed by the new 
        freely-elected democratic Government of Iraq.
          (3) The current Government of Iraq does not pose a threat to 
        the United States or its interests.
          (4) After more than four years of valiant efforts by members 
        of the Armed Forces and United States civilians, the Government 
        of Iraq must now be responsible for Iraq's future course.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

  It is the sense of Congress that--
          (1) nothing in this Act shall be construed as a 
        recommendation by Congress that any particular contingency plan 
        be exercised;
          (2) it is necessary and prudent for the Department of Defense 
        to undertake robust and comprehensive contingency planning;
          (3) contingency planning for a redeployment of the Armed 
        Forces from Iraq should address--
                  (A) ensuring appropriate protection for the Armed 
                Forces in Iraq;
                  (B) providing appropriate protection in Iraq for 
                United States civilians, contractors, third party 
                nationals, and Iraqi nationals who have assisted the 
                United States mission in Iraq;
                  (C) maintaining and enhancing the ability of the 
                United States Government to eliminate and disrupt Al 
                Qaeda and affiliated terrorist organizations; and
                  (D) preserving military equipment necessary to defend 
                the national security interests of the United States; 
                and
          (4) contingency planning for a redeployment of the Armed 
        Forces from Iraq should--
                  (A) describe a range of possible scenarios for such 
                redeployment;
                  (B) outline multiple possible timetables for such 
                redeployment; and
                  (C) describe the possible missions, and the 
                associated projected number of members, of the Armed 
                Forces which would remain in Iraq, including to--
                          (i) conduct United States military operations 
                        to protect vital United States national 
                        security interests;
                          (ii) conduct counterterrorism operations 
                        against Al Qaeda in Iraq and affiliated 
                        terrorist organizations;
                          (iii) protect the Armed Forces, United States 
                        diplomatic and military facilities, and United 
                        States civilians; and
                          (iv) support and equip Iraqi forces to take 
                        full responsibility for their own security.

SEC. 3. REPORTS AND CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFINGS ON THE STATUS OF PLANNING 
                    FOR THE REDEPLOYMENT OF THE ARMED FORCES FROM IRAQ.

  (a) Reports Required.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter, the Secretary of 
Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report 
on the status of planning for the redeployment of the Armed Forces from 
Iraq. The initial report and each subsequent report required by this 
subsection shall be submitted in unclassified form, to the maximum 
extent possible, but may contain a classified annex, if necessary.
  (b) Congressional Briefings Required.--Not later than 14 days after 
the submission of the initial report under subsection (a), the 
Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 
shall meet with the congressional defense committees to brief such 
committees on the matters contained in the report. Not later than 14 
days after the submission of each subsequent report under subsection 
(a), appropriate senior officials of the Department of Defense shall 
meet with the congressional defense committees to brief such committees 
on the matters contained in the report.
  (c) Termination of Reporting and Briefing Requirements.--The 
requirement to submit reports under subsection (a) and the requirement 
to provide congressional briefings under subsection (b) shall terminate 
on the date on which the Secretary of Defense submits to the 
congressional defense committees a certification in writing that the 
Armed Forces are no longer primarily engaged in a combat mission in 
Iraq.
  (d) Congressional Defense Committees Defined.--In this section, the 
term ``congressional defense committees'' has the meaning given the 
term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.

SEC. 4. ARMED FORCES DEFINED.

  In this Act, the term ``Armed Forces'' has the meaning given the term 
in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.
  Amend the title so as to read:

      A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress 
reports on the status of planning for the redeployment of the Armed 
Forces from Iraq and to require the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman 
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and appropriate senior officials of the 
Department of Defense to meet with Congress to brief Congress on the 
matters contained in the reports.

                         PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND

    The purpose of H.R. 3087, a bill to require the Secretary 
of Defense to submit to Congress reports on the status of 
planning for the redeployment of the Armed Forces from Iraq and 
to require the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff, and appropriate senior officials of the 
Department of Defense to meet with Congress to brief Congress 
on the matters contained in the reports, is to provide guidance 
to the Department on Congress's expectations for contingency 
planning for redeployment of U.S. armed forces from Iraq and to 
establish the mechanisms necessary to allow appropriate 
congressional oversight of such planning to occur.
    On July 12, 2007, the President delivered to Congress the 
Initial Benchmark Assessment Report on Iraq required by section 
1314 of the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veteran's Care, Katrina 
Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act of 2007 
(Public Law 110-28). That report, states that the President is 
pursuing a multi-pronged strategy ``designed to set the 
conditions for U.S. troops to begin coming home, without 
risking a humanitarian catastrophe in Iraq, sanctuaries for 
international terrorist networks, or a broader regional 
conflict that would threaten U.S. national security interests 
for generations.'' On that same day, the House of 
Representatives passed legislation, H.R. 2956, Responsible 
Redeployment from Iraq Act, by a 223-201 vote, calling for a 
reduction in the number of U.S. armed forces in Iraq and a 
transition to a limited presence there in a safe and orderly 
manner. H.R. 3087 would assist in the accomplishment of these 
goals by facilitating a dialogue between the executive and 
legislative branches of government through the required 
provision of reports and briefings to Congress on the status of 
planning for redeployment. It would maximize the amount of 
significant information of an unclassified nature provided to 
Congress, while keeping sensitive classified information fully 
protected. H.R. 3087 would continue to require reports and 
briefings until such time as the U.S. armed forces in Iraq are 
no longer primarily engaged in a combat mission, as certified 
by the Secretary of Defense.

                          LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

    H.R. 3087 was introduced on July 18, 2007, and referred to 
the Committee on Armed Services.
    On July 27, 2007, the Committee on Armed Services held a 
mark-up session to consider H.R. 3087, as introduced. The 
committee, a quorum being present, ordered reported H.R. 3087, 
as amended, to the House with a favorable recommendation by a 
record vote of 55-2.

                                HEARINGS

    Committee consideration of the matter contained in H.R. 
3087, results from multiple hearings, including a full 
committee hearing on January 11, 2007 ``The Way Forward in 
Iraq;'' a full committee hearing on January 17, 2007 
``Alternative Perspectives on the President's Strategy for 
Iraq;'' a full committee hearing on January 23, 2007 
``Implications of Iraq Policy on Total Force Readiness;'' a 
full committee hearing on July 18, 2007 ``Iraq: Trends and 
Recent Security Developments;'' and a full committee hearing on 
July 27, 2007 ``Hearing on H.R. 3159 and H.R. 3087.'' The 
committee has also received regular briefings on the status of 
operations in Iraq. The committee received views on a broad 
range of issues relating to U.S. policy in Iraq in these 
hearings and briefings, including views on many of the specific 
issues relating to contingency planning and possible scenarios 
for a redeployment of forces from Iraq that are addressed in 
H.R. 3087 such as force protection, preservation of military 
equipment, counterterrorism, and training and equipping of 
Iraqi security forces.

                      SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

    The following is a section-by-section analysis of those 
sections of H.R. 3087, as amended, by the Committee on Armed 
Services.

                          Section 1--Findings

    This section would express several findings of Congress 
related to the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against 
Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243). This section 
would find that the resolution authorized the President to use 
force to defend U.S. national security against the continuing 
threat posed by the Government of Iraq at that time. This 
section would further state that the government that ruled Iraq 
at the time the resolution was passed has been removed from 
power; that the current Government of Iraq does not pose a 
threat to the United States or its interests; and that the 
Government of Iraq must now be responsible for Iraq's future 
course.

                      Section 2--Sense of Congress

    This section would express the sense of Congress on several 
issues related to a redeployment of U.S. armed forces from 
Iraq. First, this section would express that nothing in the Act 
shall be construed as a congressional recommendation that any 
particular contingency plan be exercised. Second, it would 
express that it is necessary and appropriate for the Department 
of Defense to undertake robust and comprehensive contingency 
planning.
    Third, this section would express the sense of Congress 
that contingency planning for a redeployment of the armed 
forces from Iraq should address force protection for those 
forces, U.S. civilians, contractors, third-party nationals, and 
Iraqi nationals who have assisted the U.S. mission in Iraq. 
Further, this section would express that contingency planning 
for a redeployment from Iraq should maintain and enhance the 
ability of the U.S. Government to eliminate and disrupt al 
Qaeda and affiliated terrorist organizations and should 
preserve military equipment necessary to defend the national 
security interests of the United States.
    Finally, this section would express the sense of Congress 
that contingency planning for a redeployment of the U.S. armed 
forces from Iraq should describe a range of scenarios for such 
a redeployment, outline multiple timetables for such 
redeployment, and describe the possible missions and number of 
personnel required for U.S. armed forces that remain in Iraq.

    Section 3--Reports and Congressional Briefings on the Status of 
      Planning for the Redeployment of the Armed Forces from Iraq

    This section would require that within 60 days of enactment 
and every 90 days thereafter, the Secretary of Defense submit 
to the congressional defense committees, a report on the status 
of planning for the redeployment of U.S. armed forces from 
Iraq. The report would be required to be unclassified to the 
maximum extent possible, but could contain a classified annex, 
if necessary. This section would also require that within 14 
days of the submission of the initial report the Secretary and 
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff brief the 
congressional defense committees on the matters contained in 
the initial report. Within 14 days of the submission of every 
required report thereafter, senior defense officials would be 
required to brief the congressional defense committees on the 
matters contained in the reports. This section would terminate 
the reporting requirement when the Secretary submits to the 
congressional defense committees a written certification that 
the U.S. armed forces are no longer primarily engaged in a 
combat mission. Finally, this section would define the term 
``congressional defense committees'' as it is currently defined 
in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.
    The committee expects that the reports and briefings 
provided pursuant to this section would not include the full 
operational details of contingency plans for all redeployment 
scenarios. However, the committee does expect that such reports 
and briefings will include significant substantive details on 
the nature and scope of the contingency plans being developed, 
and significant issues arising under those plans including 
especially those issues of concern to Congress, as outlined in 
this legislation.

                    Section 4--Armed Forces Defined

    The section would define the term ``Armed Forces'' as it is 
currently defined in section 101 of title 10, United States 
Code.

                           COMMITTEE POSITION

    On July 27, 2007, the Committee on Armed Services, a quorum 
being present, ordered reported H.R. 3087, as amended, to the 
House with a favorable recommendation by a record vote of 55-2.

                  CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the cost estimate prepared by 
the Congressional Budget Office and submitted pursuant to 
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is as 
follows:
                                                     July 31, 2007.
Hon. Ike Skelton,
Chairman, Committee on Armed Services
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 3087, a bill to 
require the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress reports 
on the status of planning for the redeployment of the Armed 
Forces from Iraq and to require the Secretary of Defense, the 
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and appropriate senior 
officials of the Department of Defense to meet with Congress to 
brief Congress on the matters contained in the reports.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew 
Schmit.
            Sincerely,
                                           Peter R. Orszag,
                                                          Director.

               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

    H.R. 3087 would require the Administration to submit to the 
Congress a series of reports on plans to withdraw U.S. military 
forces from Iraq. The bill also would require senior Department 
of Defense officials to provide briefings to the Congress on 
that same topic. CBO estimates that H.R. 3087 would have no 
significant budgetary effect.
    H.R. 3087 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew Schmit. 
This estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

                        COMMITTEE COST ESTIMATE

    Pursuant to clause 3(d) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the committee generally concurs with 
the estimate as contained in the report of the Congressional 
Budget Office.

                           OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

    With respect to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the committee reports that the 
findings and recommendations of the committee, based on 
oversight activities pursuant to clause 2(b)(1) of rule X, are 
incorporated in the descriptive portions of this report.
    With respect to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, this legislation does not include 
any new spending or credit authority, nor does it provide for 
any increase or decrease in tax revenues or expenditures.
    With respect to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the bill does not authorize 
specific program funding.

             STATEMENT OF PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the goals and objectives of 
H.R. 3087 are to express the sense of Congress that the 
Department of Defense should conduct robust contingency 
planning and to require communication with Congress regarding 
redeployment planning. Sixty days after enactment, the bill 
requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report on 
redeployment planning, and that he and the Chairman of the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff brief the House and Senate Defense 
Committees on its contents. Every 90 days thereafter, the 
report must be updated and the committees must be briefed 
again.

                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the committee finds the authority for 
this legislation in Article I, section 8 of the United States 
Constitution.

                                EARMARKS

    Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI, H.R. 3087, to require the 
President, in coordination with the Secretary of State, the 
Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other 
senior military leaders, to develop and transmit to Congress a 
comprehensive strategy for the redeployment of United States 
Armed Forces in Iraq, contains no congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in 
clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI.

                     STATEMENT OF FEDERAL MANDATES

    Pursuant to section 423 of Public Law 104-4, this 
legislation contains no federal mandates with respect to state, 
local, and tribal governments, nor with respect to the private 
sector. Similarly, the bill provides no unfunded federal 
intergovernmental mandates.

                              RECORD VOTES

    In accordance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, a record vote was taken with 
respect to the committee's consideration of H.R. 3087. The 
record of this vote is included in this report.
    The committee ordered reported H.R. 3087, as amended, to 
the House with a favorable recommendation by a record vote of 
55-2, a quorum being present.


         CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

    Clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires an elaboration or description of how 
the reported bill proposes to repeal or amend a statute or part 
thereof. There were no changes in existing law made by H.R. 
3087, as reported.

                    ADDITIONAL AND DISSENTING VIEWS

    Clause 3(a) of rule XIII requires that the report include 
all supplemental, minority, or additional views that have been 
submitted. None were submitted by the time of the filing of the 
report.

                                  
