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# Legislative Bulletin..............................................June 15, 2006

**Contents:**

**H.Res. 861**---Declaring that the United States will prevail in the
Global War on Terror, the struggle to

protect freedom from the terrorist adversary

H.Res. 861---Declaring that the United States will prevail in the Global
War on Terror, the struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist
adversary (Hyde)

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: The resolution is scheduled to be
considered on Thursday, June 15^th^, subject to a (likely) closed rule
providing 8-10 hours of debate. If a Democrat substitute is offered and
made in order under the rule, RSC staff will summarize it in a separate
document. Consideration is likely to continue on Friday, June 16^th^.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Res. 861 would resolve that the House:

-   "honors all those Americans who have taken an active part in the
    Global War on Terror, whether as first responders protecting the
    homeland, as servicemembers overseas, as diplomats and intelligence
    officers, or in other roles;

-   "honors the sacrifices of the United States Armed Forces and of
    partners in the Coalition, and of the Iraqis and Afghans who fight
    alongside them, especially those who have fallen or been wounded in
    the struggle, and honors as well the sacrifices of their families
    and of others who risk their lives to help defend freedom;

-   "declares that it is not in the national security interest of the
    United States to set an arbitrary date for the withdrawal or
    redeployment of United States Armed Forces from Iraq;

-   "declares that the United States is committed to the completion of
    the mission to create a sovereign, free, secure, and united Iraq;

-   "congratulates Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki and the Iraqi people on
    the courage they have shown by participating, in increasing
    millions, in the elections of 2005 and on the formation of the first
    government under Iraq's new constitution;

-   "calls upon the nations of the world to promote global peace and
    security by standing with the United States and other Coalition
    partners to support the efforts of the Iraqi and Afghan people to
    live in freedom; and

-   "declares that the United States will prevail in the Global War on
    Terror, the noble struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist
    adversary."

**[Additional Background]{.underline}**: The resolution contains
numerous "whereas" clauses providing some background to the war against
terrorists, including:

-   "Whereas the steadfast resolve of the United States and its partners
    since September 11, 2001, helped persuade the government of Libya to
    surrender its weapons of mass destruction;

-   "Whereas by early 2003 Saddam Hussein and his criminal, Ba'athist
    regime in Iraq, which had supported terrorists, constituted a threat
    against global peace and security and was in violation of mandatory
    United Nations Security Council Resolutions;

-   "Whereas the mission of the United States and its Coalition
    partners, having removed Saddam Hussein and his regime from power,
    is to establish a sovereign, free, secure, and united Iraq at peace
    with its neighbors;

-   "Whereas the terrorists have declared Iraq to be the central front
    in their war against all who oppose their ideology;

-   "Whereas United States Armed Forces, in coordination with Iraqi
    security forces and Coalition and other friendly forces, have scored
    impressive victories in Iraq including finding and killing the
    terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi; and

-   "Whereas Iraqi security forces are, over time, taking over from
    United States and Coalition forces a growing proportion of
    independent operations and increasingly lead the fight to secure
    Iraq."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: On June 12, 2006, the resolution was
referred to the International Relations Committee and the Armed Services
Committee, neither of which took official action.

**[Administration Position]{.underline}**: This resolution mirrors the
principles in the Global War on Terror expressed by President Bush,
including the need to avoid arbitrary deadlines for U.S. troop
draw-downs.

**[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.

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