IV 

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; 


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•HRES 41 IH 

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; 


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•HRES 41 IH 

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 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 

3 (1) after more than 3,000 American casualties, 

4 over $300 billion in expenditures, and almost four 

5 years of fighting, an increase in the number of mem6 bers of the United States Armed Forces deployed in 

7 Iraq above the current level of 132,000 is the wrong 

8 course of action and should not be done without an 

9 express authorization for the increase in an Act of 

10 Congress; and 

11 (2) a drastic shift in the political and diplo12 matic strategy of the United States, as well as the 

13 mission of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq, 

14 is needed to secure and stabilize Iraq so that the 

15 United States can begin a phased withdrawal of 

16 United States troops as soon as possible. 

Æ 


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