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Brooklyn Congressional Representatives
on Iraq and Iran |
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Statement of Congressional Progressive Caucus
The Congressional Progressive Caucus has endorsed a statement calling for the removal of all U.S. troops and military contractors from Iraq in a six-month time frame as part of a fully-funded redeployment plan. Asks for binding votes to block President Bush's escalation. All appropriations for U.S. military involvement in Iraq must be for the protection of our troops until and during their withdrawal within six months of the enactment of this legislation and accelerating the training and equipping of addirional Iraqi security forces during that six-month time frame. The President has left the congress few alternatives but to use the power of the purse… to curtail U.S. military operations in Iraq.
Brooklyn Members: Clarke, Nadler, Velazquez
Officially Introduced House Legislation on Iraq
H.R. 746 — Sponsor: James McGovern (D-MA-3)
"To provide for the safe and orderly withdrawal of United States military forces and Department of Defense contractors from Iraq, and for other purposes."
Introduced: January 31, 2007
Cosponsors: 21 Democrats
Summary: H.R. 746 commences withdrawal of American armed forces and contractors within 30 days of enactment to be completed no later than 180 days thereafter. H.R. 746 makes exceptions for Americans performing reconstruction activities in Iraq but mandates that all U.S. military facilities in Iraq be transferred to the control of the Iraqi government. All funding for new American military deployments to Iraq is terminated after the date of enactment of H.R. 746.
Brooklyn Co-sponsors: none
H.R. 508 — Sponsor: Lynn Woolsey (D-CA-6)
"To require United States military disengagement from Iraq, to provide United States assistance for reconstruction and reconciliation in Iraq, and for other purposes."
Introduced:January 17, 2007
Cosponsors: 34 Democrats
Summary: H.R. 508, also known as the "Bring the Troops Home and Iraqi Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2007," mandates that all U.S. troops and military contractors in Iraq return to the U.S. or redeploy outside of the Middle East within six months of the date of enactment, at which point funding obligated or expended to deploy or continue to deploy U.S. forces in Iraq will be terminated. H.R. 508 repeals the 2002 authorization of force resolution approved to go to war with Iraq. It authorizes U.S. support for replacing U.S. troops and contractors with an international stabilization force, prohibits any permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq, accelerates U.S. troop and contractor assistance for training of a permanent Iraqi police force, and authorizes a wide array of non-military U.S. bilateral and multilateral assistance for reconstruction and reconciliation in Iraq, including a compensation fund for Iraqi noncombatant civilian casualties. Finally, H.R. 508 guarantees health care for U.S. veterans of military operations in Iraq and other conflicts and, upon completion of U.S. military disengagement from Iraq, creates a bipartisan, joint select committee of Congress to be comprised of 18 House and Senate Members.
Brooklyn Co-sponsors: Yvette Clarke, Ed Towns, Jerrold Nadler, Nydia Velazquez
H.R. 455 — Sponsor: Jerry Nadler (D-NY-8)
"To provide for the protection of members of the United States Armed Forces and for their withdrawal from Iraq by December 31, 2007."
Introduced: January 12, 2007
Cosponsors: 12 Democrats
Summary: H.R. 455, also known as the "Protect the Troops and Bring Them Home Act of 2007," calls for the safe and orderly withdrawal of U.S. soldiers from Iraq commencing no later than 30 days after the enactment of H.R. 455 and finishing no later than December 31, 2007. H.R. 455 cuts off funding for Department of Defense operations in Iraq except for the continued protection of American forces while they are withdrawing on the aforementioned timetable, but does provide financial assistance for consultations with international organizations, funding for Iraqi Security Forces and economic or reconstruction assistance.
Brooklyn Co-sponsors: Towns
H.R. 413 — Sponsor: Sam Farr (D-CA-17)
"To repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243) and to require the withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from Iraq."
Introduced: January 11, 2007
Cosponsors: 7 Democrats
Summary: H.R. 413 repeals the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243) and calls on the President to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq in a "safe and orderly manner."
Brooklyn Co-sponsors: None
H.R. 353 — Sponsor: Edward Markey (D-MA-7)
"To prohibit the use of funds for an escalation of United States forces in Iraq above the numbers existing as of January 9, 2007."
Introduced: January 9, 2007
Cosponsors: 24 Democrats
Summary: H.R. 353 prohibits the use of funds to increase the number of U.S. forces in Iraq above the number which existed as of January 9, 2007, without specific authorization from Congress. H.R. 353 is identical to the bill introduced in the Senate, S. 233/S. 287, by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA).
Brooklyn Co-sponsors: None
Note: Up-to-date listings of the co-sponsors, complete text, and status of legislation can be found at: thomas.loc.gov/
Officially Introduced House Legislation on Iran
***No Brooklyn Congressperson has signed on as co-sponsor for any of these Iran Bills
Note: Up-to-date listings of the co-sponsors, complete text, and status of legislation can be found at:
thomas.loc.gov/
H.R. 770 — Sponsor: Barbara Lee (D-CA-9)
"To prohibit the use of funds to carry out any covert action for the purpose of causing regime change in Iran or to carry out any military action against Iran in the absence of an imminent threat, in accordance with international law and constitutional and statutory requirements for congressional authorization."
Introduced: January 31, 2007
Cosponsors: 4 Democrats
Summary: H.R. 770, also known as the "Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation Act," expresses the sense of Congress that while Iran should put enforceable safeguards on its nuclear facilities and stop supporting international terrorist organizations, these two outcomes should not be preconditions for diplomatic dialogue. H.R. 770 prohibits the use of funds for "covert action for the purpose of causing regime change in Iran or to carry out any military action against Iran in the absence of an imminent threat."
H.Con.Res. 33 — Sponsor: Peter DeFazio (D-OR-4)
"Expressing the sense of Congress that the President should not initiate military action against Iran without first obtaining authorization from Congress."
Introduced: January 16, 2007
Cosponsors: 37 Democrats
Summary: H.Con.Res. 33 references the U.S. Constitution and traces the history of the war-making powers of the President to express the sense of Congress that: 1) initiating a military attack against Iran falls outside the President's "Commander-in-Chief" constitutional authority; 2) the authorization of force resolution approved in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001, does not extend to authorizing the President to use force against Iran, including over its nuclear program; 3) the authorization of force resolution approved to go to war with Iraq does not extend to authorizing the President to use force against Iran, including over its nuclear program; and 4) seeking congressional authorization prior to taking military action against Iran isn't discretionary for the President, but a legal and constitutional requirement.
H.J.Res. 14 — Sponsor: Walter Jones (R-NC-3)
"Concerning the use of military force by the United States against Iran."
Introduced: January 12, 2007
Cosponsors: 25 Democrats, 4 Republicans
Summary: H.J.Res. 14 states that unless there is an "attack by Iran, or a demonstrably imminent attack by Iran, upon the United States, its territories or possessions or its armed forces," the President must consult with Congress and receive specific authorization prior to initiating military force against Iran.
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