HR 508 SUMMARY

HR 508 SUMMARY:

The official title of the act is “Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2007.”

It was introduced by Lynn Woolsey and the original 24 cosponsors were pretty much the leadership the Congressional Progressive Caucus. There are currently 49 cosponsors. (The PDA has its own list of 69 members of the Progressive Caucus.)

Part I deals with US military disengagement from Iraq.

Sections 101 is a list of findings (whereas such-and-such … )

Section 102 is a general description of purpose (to end the occupation of Iraq …).

Section 103 repeals the authorization for the use of force in Iraq. Powerful legal step.

“The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) is hereby repealed.”

Section 104 requires that all troops will be out in six months. The central operative requirement. It has three parts:

(a) withdrawal of armed forces,

(b) withdrawal of contracted security forces, and

“Not later than the end of the six-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, all United States Armed Forces serving in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom shall be withdrawn from Iraq and returned to the United States or redeployed outside of the Middle East.”

“Not later than the end of the six-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, all security forces under contract or subcontract with the United States Government and working in Iraq shall be withdrawn from Iraq.”

“… funds appropriated or otherwise made available under any provision of law may not be obligated or expended to deploy or continue to deploy members or units of the United States Armed Forces to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom… [except] to provide for the safe and orderly withdrawal of the Armed Forces and contractor security forces from Iraq ….”

Section 105 prohibits permanent military bases.

(a) Nothing designed for occupation by US armed forces after this withdrawal may be constructed.

(b) Ownership of all facilities constructed will be turned over to the Government of Iraq.

“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 [this] withdrawal of the Armed Forces from Iraq … may be constructed in Iraq.”

“The President of the United States shall transfer to the Government of Iraq all right, title, and interest held by the United States in any military facility in Iraq that was constructed, repaired, or improved using amounts appropriated to the Department of Defense and occupied by a unit of the United States Armed Forces.”

Section 106 says that during the six-month period before withdrawal is complete, the Secretary of Defense may use military forces and security contractors

“… to assist in the training of a permanent Iraqi police force and neighborhood, village, and tribal home guards comprised of Iraqi citizens.”

(I particularly like the idea of home guards. Note that there is no provision for our training or equipping an Iraqi national army.)

Section 107

(a) authorizes the President to support an “international stabilization force” if requested by the Government of Iraq, and

(b) recommends that this force begin at least by the six-month withdrawal date and end within two years of deployment.

The first clause is:

“If requested by the Government of Iraq (including with the support of the National Assembly of Iraq), the President of the United States is authorized to support the deployment of an international stabilization force to Iraq to enhance public security in Iraq after the withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from Iraq ….”

Section 108 limits the total number of US embassy personnel to 500 persons.

Section 109

(a) prohibits US nationals from entering into contracts for the production or marketing of oil

(b) unless and until the Government of Iraq has laws to regulate the activities of foreign nationals pursuant to such contracts.

(a) “On or after the date of the enactment of this Act, no department, agency, or other entity of the Government of the United States and no national of the United States may enter into a contract for the development, production, or marketing of petroleum resources in Iraq.”

(b) “Subsection (a) shall cease to be effective beginning on the date on which the President of the United States certifies to Congress that the Government of Iraq has established and is enforcing laws that provide for the regulation of activities of foreign governments and foreign nationals pursuant to contracts for the development, production, or marketing of petroleum resources in Iraq.”

The Section specifies that “national” of the US means either a person or a corporation.

(I think this Section allows the Iraqis to put out whatever contracts they choose, but requires that they establish laws so that foreign companies cannot use these contracts to bring in their own security forces and forcibly take control.)

Part II deals with US assistance in reconciliation and reconstruction in Iraq.

Under the heading of Bilateral Assistance:

Section 201 extends the office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.

Section 202

(a) authorizes “a study on the damage to Iraqi civil society and infrastructure”;

(b) requires a report on the results; and

Section 203

(a) authorizes the President to assist the Government of Iraq “to establish and train an Iraqi reconstruction corps to rebuild the infrastructure of Iraq”;

(b) authorizes him to use his own judgment; and

Section 204

(a) authorizes the President to provide assistance for the clean-up of land mines, unexploded ordinance, and depleted uranium;

(b) authorizes him to use his own judgment; and

Section 205

(a) authorizes the President to provide assistance in dismantling fortifications and other remnants of Operation Iraqi Freedom;

(b) authorizes him to use his judgment, but recommends that Iraqis be hired and that it be administered by local Iraqi governments; and

Section 206

(a) authorizes the President to provide assistance “to recover ancient relics and to restore archeological, cultural, and historical sites of international significance and importance in Iraq”;

(b) provides that this assistance as much as possible will be in grants to the Iraqi Museum of Antiquities, the Smithsonian Institution, etc.;

(d) appropriates $250 million for that purpose.

Section 207 provides for compensation for Iraqi noncombatant civilian casualties. It does this pursuant to the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949.

(a) requires the Commission to certify and determine the amount for claims filed within three years,

but specifically excludes “any person who participated in the armed insurgency in Iraq after May 1, 2003;

(b) and (c) say that applicable law and “applicable principles of justice and equity” shall apply;

(d) the Secretary of State shall assure the Iraqi people have adequate notice;

(e) the Secretary of the Treasury shall establish an “Iraq Claims Fund”;

(f) payments will be $10,000 or less as determined, and may be paid in installments proportional to the total remaining in the fund;

(g) agencies may make available records relevant to claims;

(h) statute of limitations is two years from publication of notice;

(i) funds left in the Claims Fund at the end of two years will be returned to the Treasury;

(j) definitions of terms;

(k) $200 million is appropriated for this purpose.

Section 208

(a) authorizes the President to provide assistance to establish an independent, nonprofit Iraqi institute of peace, the purpose of which is:

“education and training, basic and applied research opportunities, and peace information services on the means to promote domestic tranquility and international peace and the resolution of conflicts without recourse to violence”

(b) authorizes the President to use his judgment;

Under the heading of Multilateral Assistance:

Section 211

(a) authorizes the President to seek to establish “an international fund to redevelop civic institutions in Iraq”;

(b) recommends that this should “provide incentives for the return of exiled or emigre Iraqi doctors, nurses, educators, jurists, engineers, attorneys, writers, journalists, and other professionals”; and

Section 212

(a) authorizes the President to seek to establish “an international fund to reconstitute the public health system in Iraq,” to be administered by WHO, UNICEF, etc.

(b) recommends that this would be “for the rebuilding of hospitals and clinics in Iraq and the purchase of diagnostic and therapeutic equipment and services for hospitals and clinics in Iraq”; and

Part III provides for veterans:

Section 301 amends the existing law funding veterans health care programs by

* providing the FY 2008 appropriation to be 130% of the FY 2006 appropriation;

* providing that appropriations therafter be equal to the number of veterans multiplied by a baseline which increases with the Consumer Price Index;

* providing that these appropriations are not available for the construction or acquisition of facilities.

Part IV establishes a “Joint Select Committee to Review the Origins and Conduct of Operation Iraqi Freedom”.

Section 401 establishes the committee of that name.

Section 402 authorizes this committee:

“(1) to conduct a comprehensive study and review of the origins and conduct of the United States military intervention in Iraq ordered on March 19, 2003 and its aftermath; and

(2) to make recommendations to the House of Representatives and Senate for such legislation or other action the Joint Select Committee considers necessary in response to its findings ….”

And requires a final report not later than December 31, 2008.

Section 403 establishes

* the membership (nine members each from the House and Senate appointed by the majority leader in consultation with the minority leader) and

* the leadership (chair and vice-chair from different chambers, appointed by Speaker and Majority Leader of respective chamber).

Section 404 establishes the powers of the committee:

(a) to hold hearings;

(b) to issue subpoenas as may be authorized by a majority of the committee:

“The Joint Select Committee may require by subpoena the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and documents, as it considers appropriate.”

(c) to access legislative services such as the GAO, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Congressional Research Service.

Section 405 provides for paid staff or detailed personnel from Federal agencies as requested.

Section 406 provides funds for expenses, as may be authorized by the committee, to be provided from applicable accounts of each chamber.

Section 407 calls for termination of the Committee 15 days after submitting its final report.