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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 41 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 41

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that an increase 
 in the number of members of the United States Forces deployed in Iraq 
is the wrong course of action and that a drastic shift in the political 
 and diplomatic strategy of the United States is needed to help secure 
                          and stabilize Iraq.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 9, 2007

  Mr. Meehan (for himself, Mr. Stark, Mr. Allen, Mr. Blumenauer, Mrs. 
Capps, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Payne, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Baldwin, 
  Ms. McCollum of Minnesota, Mr. Markey, Mr. Honda, Mr. Cummings, Mr. 
 Kennedy, and Mrs. Tauscher) submitted the following resolution; which 
 was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to 
   the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that an increase 
 in the number of members of the United States Forces deployed in Iraq 
is the wrong course of action and that a drastic shift in the political 
 and diplomatic strategy of the United States is needed to help secure 
                          and stabilize Iraq.

Whereas the situation in Iraq is rapidly deteriorating and is increasingly 
        becoming a problem that cannot be solved militarily;
Whereas President Bush has acknowledged that the current strategy in Iraq is not 
        working;
Whereas December 2006 marked the deadliest month of the War in Iraq in over two 
        years, and United States casualties surpassed 3,000;
Whereas it is crucial that the 110th Congress assert its constitutionally 
        mandated authority to serve as a check on the President's handling of 
        the war by overseeing the more than $300 billion already obligated or 
        expended on the war and any requests for additional appropriations;
Whereas an increase in the number of members of the United States Armed Forces 
        deployed in Iraq above the current level of 132,000 troops will continue 
        to increase Iraqi dependence on United States forces and further 
        prevents the Iraqi government from taking responsibility for securing 
        their country;
Whereas General John Abizaid, Commander of United States Central Command, has 
        testified before the Armed Services Committee of the Senate that he has 
        met with the top military commanders in Iraq and they all agree that 
        more troops are not necessary because ``more American forces prevent the 
        Iraqis from doing more, from taking more responsibility for their own 
        future'';
Whereas since June 2006, the United States has increased its military presence 
        in Baghdad twice, while the violence and deaths of Americans has 
        drastically increased since the last troop increase;
Whereas the neighboring countries and the region surrounding Iraq share a 
        strategic vested interest in playing a constructive role in ending the 
        violence in Iraq and creating a stable and peaceful nation;
Whereas it is critical that United States diplomats engage the countries of the 
        world in this struggle and make it clear that no nation can afford to 
        ignore the continued chaos in the Middle East; and
Whereas a growing consensus exists among the majority of the American people, 
        military leaders, and the bipartisan Iraq Study Group that the United 
        States should begin a phased strategic redeployment of United States 
        troops from Iraq in 2007 in conjunction with a increase in diplomacy to 
        stabilize Iraq: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) after more than 3,000 American casualties, over $300 
        billion in expenditures, and almost four years of fighting, an 
        increase in the number of members of the United States Armed 
        Forces deployed in Iraq above the current level of 132,000 is 
        the wrong course of action and should not be done without an 
        express authorization for the increase in an Act of Congress; 
        and
            (2) a drastic shift in the political and diplomatic 
        strategy of the United States, as well as the mission of the 
        United States Armed Forces in Iraq, is needed to secure and 
        stabilize Iraq so that the United States can begin a phased 
        withdrawal of United States troops as soon as possible.
                                 <all>
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