I 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4983 

To recognize the exemplary service of the National Guard in Iraq and to 

direct the President to begin the redeployment of United States military 

forces from Iraq, starting with National Guard units. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 16, 2006 

Mr. BLUMENAUER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on International Relations, 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 

A BILL 

To recognize the exemplary service of the National Guard 

in Iraq and to direct the President to begin the redeployment of United States military forces from Iraq, starting 

with National Guard units. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘First Step to Redeploy5 ment Act of 2006’’. 

6 SEC. 2. RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL GUARD. 

7 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) The men and women of the United States 

2 Armed Forces have carried out their mission in Iraq 

3 with courage, professionalism, and honor. 

4 (2) Units and personnel of the National Guard 

5 have been a major component of United States mili6 tary forces in Iraq. 

7 (3) Since the start of the occupation of Iraq, 

8 the Iraqi people have successfully voted in three elec9 tions, approved a constitution, and established a 

10 government. 

11 (4) United States national security interests, as 

12 well as the future stability of Iraq, would now be 

13 best served by the phased redeployment of United 

14 States military forces from Iraq and refocused polit15 ical, diplomatic, and reconstruction efforts. 

16 (5) The extended deployments of National 

17 Guard units in Iraq have placed an undue burden on 

18 the families of members of the National Guard, the 

19 communities in which the members live, and the 

20 States. 

21 (6) The National Guard is a critical element of 

22 the Total Force concept of the Armed Forces. 

23 (7) Because of the dual role of the National 

24 Guard under the Constitution to both the Federal 

25 Government and the various States, including the 


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1 States’ reliance on the National Guard for disaster 

2 response and homeland defense, the redeployment of 

3 Armed Forces from Iraq should begin with the rede4 ployment of the National Guard. 

5 (b) CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION.—Congress— 

6 (1) expresses its deep appreciation to the mem7 bers of the National Guard and all other members 

8 of the Armed Forces for their service and commends 

9 their achievements, their sacrifices, and the sac10 rifices of their families; 

11 (2) declares that there is no more capable sol12 dier than the citizen-soldiers of the National Guard; 

13 (3) reaffirms the critical role of the National 

14 Guard in defending the United States, carrying out 

15 combat missions, responding to domestic emer16 gencies and disasters, and securing the homeland; 

17 (4) recognizes the importance of the National 

18 Guard in ensuring a connection between the military 

19 and local communities; and 

20 (5) opposes any attempt to reduce the role of 

21 the National Guard within the Total Force concept 

22 of the Armed Forces. 


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1 SEC. 3. REDEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES ARMED 

2 FORCES FROM IRAQ. 

3 The President shall begin the redeployment of United 

4 States Armed Forces from Iraq, starting with the orderly 

5 redeployment of National Guard units. 

Æ 


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