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# Legislative Bulletin.................................................October 16, 2007

**Contents:**

> **H.Res. 734**--- Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives
> regarding the appreciation for the political, economic and security
> situation in Iraq and the importance of safeguarding classified and
> sensitive governmental information the appropriate release of which
> could affect the United States' bilateral relationship with the
> Government of Iraq and could put in danger the lives of Americans or
> the lives of America's allies

**H.Res. 734--- Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives
regarding** **the appreciation for the political, economic and security
situation in Iraq and the importance of safeguarding classified and
sensitive governmental information** **the appropriate release of which
could affect the United States' bilateral relationship with the
Government of Iraq and could put in danger the lives of Americans**
**or** **the lives of America's** **allies (*Waxman, D-CA*)**

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: The resolution is scheduled to be
considered on Tuesday, October 16^th^, subject to a closed rule (H.Res.
741), prohibiting all amendments. The rule would allow one motion to
recommit [without]{.underline} instructions.

**[NOTE]{.underline}: There are conflicting reports about whether an
amended version of this resolution would be considered on the House
floor today (though the closed rule seems to provide for consideration
of only the introduced version). Below is the summary of the version we
*believe* will come to the floor. The RSC will circulate any updates, as
necessary, if this situation changes.**

**[Summary, as amended]{.underline}**: H.Res. 734 would resolve a sense
of the House that:

-   "as Congress considers the President's request for over
    \$150,000,000,000 more for the war in Iraq, it is essential that
    Congress and the people of the United States know the extent of
    corruption in the Iraqi government and whether corruption is fueling
    the insurgency and endangering members of the United States Armed
    Forces;

-   "it is imperative the Department of State double their efforts and
    centralize the authority within the United States Embassy in Iraq to
    assist the Iraqi Government fight corruption in all its forms;

-   "the Department of State reemphasize to its employees the proper
    manner to present complaints about ongoing policy, especially when
    it deals with classified, or potentially classified, information,
    and that Department of State employees not release classified, or
    potentially classified, information to their relatives or the media;

-   "the decision to classify information contained in the Government
    Accountability Office report titled, 'Stabilizing and Rebuilding
    Iraq: U.S. Ministry Capacity Development Efforts Need an Overall
    Strategy to Guide Efforts and Manage Risk,' was made pursuant to
    Executive Order 12958 and current agency guidelines, and any
    determination that classification was wrong or improper should be
    undertaken pursuant to established declassification procedures, not
    by Congressional resolution;

-   "it is an abuse of the classification process to withhold from
    Congress and the people of the United States broad assessments of
    the extent of corruption in the Iraqi Government;

-   "it is not an abuse of the classification process to protect from
    unauthorized disclosure information contained in draft internal,
    unedited, unpublished, and unapproved reports that reasonably may be
    expected to cause harm to the national defense or foreign relations
    of the United States;

-   "any directive that prohibits Federal Government officials from
    providing Congress and the people of the United States with 'broad
    statements/assessments which judge or characterize the quality of
    Iraqi governance or the ability/determination of the Iraqi
    government to deal with corruption, including allegations that
    investigations were thwarted/stifled for political reasons' should
    be rescinded; and

-   "broad statements and assessments judging or characterizing the
    quality of Iraqi governance or the ability or determination of the
    Iraqi government to deal with corruption or allegations of political
    interference in anti-corruption efforts are not the policy of the
    United States government unless authorized by the President or the
    Secretary of State and reviewed for appropriate classification."

The resolution quotes Stuart Bowen, the Special Inspector General for
Iraq Reconstruction, and U.S. Comptroller, General David Walker, in
their testimony before the Oversight and Government Reform Committee
regarding the harmful effects of corruption in the Iraqi Government and
its effects on rebuilding Iraq.

The resolution also quotes the chairman of the Independent Commission on
the Security Forces of Iraq, General James L. Jones, U.S.M.C. (Ret.),
regarding his assertion that corruption is "pervasive" in the Iraq
Ministry of Interior (responsible for domestic security).

Additionally, the resolution cites numerous instances where the Bush
Administration was purportedly restricting the spread of information
about such corruption in Iraq (including deeming certain reports as
classified retroactively).

**[Additional Background]{.underline}**: The State Department asserts
that it did not "retroactively" classify the report on Iraqi government
corruption referenced above. Rather, the Department asserts, the report
was leaked early and should have been classified before it was ever
released.

To access documents and video (as well as Bush Administration and GAO
statements) related to the Oversight and Government Reform Committee
hearing on corruption in the Iraqi Government, visit this webpage:
<http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1514>.

For news stories about Iraqi government corruption, visit these three
webpages:

-   <http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/27/iraq.draft.report/index.html>

-   <http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20071004/wl_mcclatchy/20071004bcusiraqcorruption_attn_national_foreign_editors_ytop>

-   <http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-10-04-iraq-corruption_N.htm?csp=34>

**[Possible Conservative Concerns]{.underline}**: Some conservatives may
be concerned that this resolution mischaracterizes the retroactive
classification of a report that was leaked prematurely and was always
intended to be classified before release. Some conservatives may also
regard this resolution as partisan and unhelpful, aimed at the
classification procedures, the Bush Administration, and the Iraqi
government.

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: On October 12, 2007, H.Res. 734 was
referred to the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which took no
subsequent public action on it.

**[Administration Position]{.underline}**: Although a Statement of
Administration Policy (SAP) was not available at press time, since the
resolution includes several statements criticizing---and calling for the
reversal of---Bush Administration actions, it is likely that the
Administration would oppose this resolution.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution would authorize no
expenditure.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}**: No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}**: No.

**[Does the Bill Comply with House Rules Regarding Earmarks/Limited Tax
Benefits/Limited Tariff Benefits?]{.underline}**: An earmarks/revenue
benefits statement is not required for House resolutions (except joint
resolutions) under House Rule XXI.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Paul S. Teller,
<paul.teller@mail.house.gov>, (202) 226-9718