Responsible Redeployment Appropriations Act
On November 14th, the House passed the Orderly and Responsible Iraq Redeployment Appropriations Act, H.R. 4156. The American people continue to demand a New Direction in Iraq. This war – now lasting nearly five years, longer than World War II – has cost Americans too much, in terms of lives, dollars, and our reputation around the world.
Speaker Pelosi's speech in support of the bill:
This legislation will change the direction of President Bush’s failed Iraqi policy: require the President to redeploy our troops, while providing our troops in harm’s way with the resources they need.
President Bush has asked Congress for an additional nearly $200 billion for Iraq. The House instead passed a $50 billion package, instituting a redeployment timeline and other critical directives aimed at transitioning our role in Iraq and bringing our troops home. The bill provides $50 billion to meet the immediate needs of our troops, but defers consideration of the remainder of the President’s nearly $200 billion request. At current rates of expenditures, the additional funds last only four months.
This Bill Requires Redeployment of Our Troops Within 30 Days, With A Goal for Completion of Deployment by December 15, 2008
The bill provides that it is the sense of the Congress that:
- The war in Iraq should end as safely and quickly as possible and our troops should be brought home.
- The performance of U.S. military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan should be commended, their courage and sacrifice have been exceptional, and when they come home, their service should be recognized appropriately.
- The primary purpose of funds made available by this Act should be to transition the mission of the U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq and undertake their redeployment, and not to extend or prolong the war.
This bill supports our troops, while requiring the President to change course in Iraq, with a timetable for redeployment:
- This bill changes the direction of President Bush’s failed Iraqi policy: requiring the President to redeploy our troops, while providing our troops in harm’s way with the resources they need.
- President Bush has asked Congress for an additional nearly $200 billion for Iraq. The House will instead vote on a $50 billion package – funding for the next four months, tied to conditions.
- The bill provides $50 billion to meet the immediate needs of our troops, but defers consideration of the remainder of the President’s nearly $200 billion request.
The bill requires the redeployment of our troops to begin within 30 days of enactment, with a goal of completion of December 15, 2008:
- Within 30 days after enactment of this Act, the President shall commence an immediate and orderly redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq.
- The Secretary of Defense, by February 1, 2008 and every 90 days thereafter, must report to Congress on the current plan for and the status of the redeployment of U.S. forces out of Iraq and the transition to a limited presence. He must also describe efforts to limit any destabilizing consequences of such reduction and transition, including a description of efforts to work with the United Nations and countries in the region toward that objective.
The Bill Also Places Several Other Conditions on the Short-Term Funding Provided
- Most importantly, the bill imposes a timeline for the redeployment of U.S. troops, with a goal of the completion of the redeployment by December 15, 2008. However, in addition, the bill imposes several other conditions on the Administration in order to receive the funding, as outlined below.
The bill requires a transition in the mission of U.S. forces in Iraq from primarily combat to the following limited purposes:
- Protecting U.S. diplomatic facilities, U.S. Armed Forces, and American citizens
- Engaging in targeted counterterrorism operations against al-Qaeda, al-Qaeda affiliated groups, and other terrorist organizations in Iraq
- Providing limited support to Iraqi security forces
The bill prohibits deployment of U.S. troops to Iraq who are not fully trained and fully equipped:
- Requires that troops be “fully mission capable” before being deployed to Iraq
- Allows the President to waive this requirement if he certified in writing that the waiver is required for reasons of national security
- Includes an extension to all U.S. government agencies and personnel of the current prohibitions in the Army Field Manual against torture.
The Measure Has the Support of American People
This measure represents the views of the American people, who are demanding a new direction in Iraq:
- In the CNN-Opinion Research poll released on November 8, 68 percent of Americans stated that they opposed the war in Iraq – the highest percentage since the war began.
- In a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll, 60 percent of Americans support redeploying our troops out of Iraq.
This Congress will continue to fight for change in President Bush’s 10-year, trillion dollar war. Democrats are committed to bringing our troops home soon, repairing the readiness of our military and refocusing our efforts to fight terrorism around the world.
Congressional Republicans who have continued to support the President’s war will have a choice to make: keep voting to run out the clock on the President’s term in order to make this failed policy the next President’s responsibility, or stand with the American people and vote for a New Direction in Iraq.