I 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 508 

To require United States military disengagement from Iraq, to provide United 

States assistance for reconstruction and reconciliation in Iraq, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 17, 2007 

Ms. WOOLSEY (for herself, Ms. LEE, Ms. WATERS, Ms. WATSON, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. 

NADLER, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. CLAY, Mr. COHEN, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. FILNER, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. PAYNE, and Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 

Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Veterans’ 

Affairs, Rules, and the Judiciary, 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 require United States military disengagement from Iraq, 

to provide United States assistance for reconstruction 

and reconciliation in Iraq, and for other purposes. 

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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restora6 tion Act of 2007’’. 


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1 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

2 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

TITLE I—UNITED STATES MILITARY DISENGAGEMENT FROM 

IRAQ 

Sec. 101. Findings. 

Sec. 102. Statement of policy. 

Sec. 103. Repeal of Public Law 107–243. 

Sec. 104. Disengagement of United States Armed Forces and contractor security forces from Iraq. 

Sec. 105. Prohibition on permanent United States military installations in Iraq. 

Sec. 106. Provision of Iraqi police and home guards training. 

Sec. 107. Deployment of international stabilization force to Iraq. 

Sec. 108. Limitation on total number of United States Government personnel 

at United States Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. 

Sec. 109. Prohibition on production sharing agreements for Iraqi petroleum resources. 

TITLE II—UNITED STATES ASSISTANCE FOR RECONSTRUCTION 

AND RECONCILIATION IN IRAQ 

Subtitle A—Bilateral Assistance 

Sec. 201. Modification of authorities relating to the Special Inspector General 

for Iraq Reconstruction. 

Sec. 202. Study and report on damage to Iraqi civil society and infrastructure. 

Sec. 203. Assistance to establish an Iraqi reconstruction corps. 

Sec. 204. Assistance for the destruction of land mines and related activities in 

Iraq. 

Sec. 205. Assistance to dismantle and dispose of fortifications and other remnants of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

Sec. 206. Assistance to recover ancient relics and to restore archeological, cultural, and historical sites in Iraq. 

Sec. 207. Compensation for Iraqi Noncombatant Civilian Casualties. 

Sec. 208. Assistance to establish an Iraqi institute of peace. 

Subtitle B—Multilateral Assistance 

Sec. 211. International fund to redevelop civic institutions in Iraq. 

Sec. 212. International fund to reconstitute the public health system in Iraq. 

TITLE III—GUARANTEED HEALTH CARE FOR VETERANS OF 

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND OTHER CONFLICTS 

Sec. 301. Assurance of adequate funding for veterans health care. 

TITLE IV—ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE TO 

REVIEW THE ORIGINS AND CONDUCT OF OPERATION IRAQI 

FREEDOM 

Sec. 401. Establishment of Joint Select Committee. 

Sec. 402. Duties. 

Sec. 403. Membership. 


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Sec. 404. Powers. 

Sec. 405. Staff. 

Sec. 406. Funding. 

Sec. 407. Termination. 

1 TITLE I—UNITED STATES MILI2 TARY DISENGAGEMENT FROM 

3 IRAQ 

4 SEC. 101. FINDINGS. 

5 Congress finds the following: 

6 (1) The brave men and women of the United 

7 States Armed Forces continue to serve with distinc8 tion in Iraq and have earned the respect and grati9 tude of the American people. 

10 (2) On May 1, 2003, under a banner displaying 

11 the words ‘‘Mission Accomplished,’’ President 

12 George W. Bush stated: ‘‘Major combat operations 

13 in Iraq have ended.’’. At that point, the occupation 

14 of Iraq began. 

15 (3) The civilian leadership at the Department 

16 of Defense has failed to adequately support United 

17 States Armed Forces in Iraq, which were not trained 

18 to carry out an occupation and did not receive the 

19 proper equipment to achieve their stated mission. 

20 (4) The occupation of Iraq has made the 

21 United States economically and militarily weaker, 

22 has made the United States less safe because it has 

23 enhanced the recruitment of terrorists, and has diVerDate Aug 31 2005 23:08 Jan 18, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H508.IH H508

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1 minished America’s prestige and influence in the 

2 world. 

3 (5) Iraq is embroiled in a civil war character4 ized by daily occurrences of retaliation and revenge, 

5 fueled by the occupation of Iraq by United States 

6 Armed Forces. The civil war in Iraq was predicted 

7 by United States military commanders before the 

8 2003 occupation of Iraq. 

9 (6) The United States has pursued military ac10 tion rather than diplomatic alternatives in Iraq, and 

11 has reduced reconstruction efforts in Iraq. 

12 (7) On May 13, 2003, the President stated, 

13 ‘‘We will stay as long as necessary to make sure that 

14 the Iraqi people have a government of, by and for 

15 the Iraqi people. And then we’ll come home.’’. 

16 (8) On December 15, 2005, the Iraqi people 

17 participated in elections to directly elect a full-term 

18 government. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki 

19 and other high-ranking Iraqi Government officials, 

20 as well as leaders from the Sunni, Shiite, and Kurd21 ish communities in Iraq, have since called for a 

22 timetable for the withdrawal of United States Armed 

23 Forces from Iraq. 


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1 (9) Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has 

2 stated that Iraqi political leaders must bring security 

3 and stability to Iraq. 

4 (10) During the summer of 2006, General 

5 George Casey, the top United States military com6 mander in Iraq, proposed a plan for the deployment 

7 from Iraq of a substantial portion of United States 

8 Armed Forces and briefed the President accordingly. 

9 (11) United States military commanders in Iraq 

10 have repeatedly stated that there is no military solu11 tion to the turmoil in Iraq. 

12 (12) In the United States elections held on No13 vember 7, 2006, the American people clearly voted 

14 for a change in United States policy in Iraq and in 

15 favor of United States military disengagement from 

16 Iraq. 

17 SEC. 102. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 

18 Congress declares that it is the policy of the United 

19 States— 

20 (1) to end the occupation of Iraq on the basis 

21 of the findings specified in section 101; 

22 (2) to accelerate the training and equipping of 

23 the military and security forces of the Government 

24 of Iraq; 


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1 (3) to pursue security and stability in Iraq 

2 through diplomacy; 

3 (4) to help preserve the territorial integrity of 

4 Iraq as a nation state; 

5 (5) to take all appropriate measures to account 

6 for any missing members of the United States 

7 Armed Forces or United States citizens in Iraq; and 

8 (6) to turn over all internal security activities 

9 and military operations in Iraq to the elected Gov10 ernment of Iraq not later than the end of the six11 month period beginning on the date of the enact12 ment of this Act. 

13 SEC. 103. REPEAL OF PUBLIC LAW 107–243. 

14 The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against 

15 Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107–243; 50 U.S.C. 

16 1541 note) is hereby repealed. 

17 SEC. 104. DISENGAGEMENT OF UNITED STATES ARMED 

18 FORCES AND CONTRACTOR SECURITY 

19 FORCES FROM IRAQ. 

20 (a) WITHDRAWAL OF ARMED FORCES.—Not later 

21 than the end of the six-month period beginning on the date 

22 of the enactment of this Act, all United States Armed 

23 Forces serving in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom 

24 shall be withdrawn from Iraq and returned to the United 

25 States or redeployed outside of the Middle East. It is the 


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1 policy of Congress that this withdrawal shall commence 

2 as soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of 

3 this Act to ensure completion of the withdrawal by the 

4 end of such six-month period. 

5 (b) WITHDRAWAL OF CONTRACTOR SECURITY

6 FORCES.—Not later than the end of the six-month period 

7 beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, all 

8 security forces under contract or subcontract with the 

9 United States Government and working in Iraq shall be 

10 withdrawn from Iraq. The contract or subcontract pro11 viding for the use of such security forces shall be termi12 nated as soon as practicable after the forces are with13 drawn. 

14 (c) PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO CONTINUE

15 DEPLOYMENT OF ARMED FORCES IN IRAQ.— 

16 (1) PROHIBITION.—Except as provided in para17 graph (2), funds appropriated or otherwise made 

18 available under any provision of law may not be obli19 gated or expended to deploy or continue to deploy 

20 members or units of the United States Armed 

21 Forces to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

22 (2) EXCEPTIONS.—Paragraph (1) does not 

23 apply to the use of funds— 

24 (A) to provide for the safe and orderly 

25 withdrawal of the Armed Forces and contractor 


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1 security forces from Iraq pursuant to sub2 sections (a) and (b); or 

3 (B) to ensure the security of Iraq and its 

4 transition to democratic rule by— 

5 (i) carrying out consultations with the 

6 Government of Iraq, other foreign govern7 ments, the North Atlantic Treaty Organi8 zation, the United Nations, and other 

9 international organizations; or 

10 (ii) providing financial assistance or 

11 equipment to Iraqi security forces and 

12 international forces in Iraq. 

13 (d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec14 tion shall be construed to prohibit or otherwise restrict 

15 the use of funds available to any department or agency 

16 of the United States, other than the Department of De17 fense, to carry out social and economic reconstruction ac18 tivities in Iraq. 

19 (e) ARMED FORCES DEFINED.—In this section, the 

20 term ‘‘Armed Forces’’ has the meaning given the term in 

21 section 101(a)(4) of title 10, United States Code. 

22 SEC. 105. PROHIBITION ON PERMANENT UNITED STATES 

23 MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN IRAQ. 

24 (a) PROHIBITION.—No permanent or long-term mili25 tary installation, which is designed or intended to be occuVerDate Aug 31 2005 23:08 Jan 18, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H508.IH H508

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1 pied by a unit of the United States Armed Forces after 

2 the withdrawal of the Armed Forces from Iraq pursuant 

3 to section 104(a), may be constructed in Iraq. 

4 (b) TRANSFER OF MILITARY FACILITIES.—The 

5 President of the United States shall transfer to the Gov6 ernment of Iraq all right, title, and interest held by the 

7 United States in any military facility in Iraq that was con8 structed, repaired, or improved using amounts appro9 priated to the Department of Defense and occupied by a 

10 unit of the United States Armed Forces. 

11 SEC. 106. PROVISION OF IRAQI POLICE AND HOME GUARDS 

12 TRAINING. 

13 During the six-month period specified in subsections 

14 (a) and (b) of section 104 for the withdrawal of United 

15 States Armed Forces and contractor security forces from 

16 Iraq, the Secretary of Defense may use members of the 

17 Armed Forces and security forces under contract or sub18 contract with the Department of Defense to assist in the 

19 training of a permanent Iraqi police force and neighbor20 hood, village, and tribal home guards comprised of Iraqi 

21 citizens. 

22 SEC. 107. DEPLOYMENT OF INTERNATIONAL STABILIZA23 TION FORCE TO IRAQ. 

24 (a) DEPLOYMENT.—If requested by the Government 

25 of Iraq (including with the support of the National AssemVerDate Aug 31 2005 23:08 Jan 18, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H508.IH H508

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1 bly of Iraq), the President of the United States is author2 ized to support the deployment of an international sta3 bilization force to Iraq to enhance public security in Iraq 

4 after the withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from 

5 Iraq pursuant to section 104(a). 

6 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con7 gress that the deployment of the international stabilization 

8 force to Iraq described in subsection (a) should commence 

9 not later than the end of the six-month period beginning 

10 on the date of the enactment of this Act and terminate 

11 not later than the end of the two-year period beginning 

12 on the date of commencement of such deployment. 

13 SEC. 108. LIMITATION ON TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITED 

14 STATES GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL AT 

15 UNITED STATES EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD, 

16 IRAQ. 

17 (a) LIMITATION.—Notwithstanding any other provi18 sion of law, the total number of officers and employees 

19 of the United States Government assigned to the United 

20 States Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, may not exceed 500 

21 individuals. 

22 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (a) shall take ef23 fect beginning six months after the date of the enactment 

24 of this Act. 


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1 SEC. 109. PROHIBITION ON PRODUCTION SHARING AGREE2 MENTS FOR IRAQI PETROLEUM RESOURCES. 

3 (a) PROHIBITION.—On or after the date of the enact4 ment of this Act, no department, agency, or other entity 

5 of the Government of the United States and no national 

6 of the United States may enter into a contract for the 

7 development, production, or marketing of petroleum re8 sources in Iraq. 

9 (b) SUNSET.—Subsection (a) shall cease to be effec10 tive beginning on the date on which the President of the 

11 United States certifies to Congress that the Government 

12 of Iraq has established and is enforcing laws that provide 

13 for the regulation of activities of foreign governments and 

14 foreign nationals pursuant to contracts for the develop15 ment, production, or marketing of petroleum resources in 

16 Iraq. 

17 (c) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘national 

18 of the United States’’ means— 

19 (1) a natural person who is a citizen of the 

20 United States or who owes permanent allegiance to 

21 the United States or is an alien lawfully admitted 

22 for permanent residence in the United States, as de23 fined in section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and 

24 Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20)); or 

25 (2) a corporation, partnership, or other busi26 ness association that is organized under the laws of 


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1 the United States, any State or territory thereof, or 

2 the District of Columbia. 

3 TITLE II—UNITED STATES AS4 SISTANCE FOR RECONSTRUC5 TION AND RECONCILIATION 

6 IN IRAQ 

7 Subtitle A—Bilateral Assistance 

8 SEC. 201. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITIES RELATING TO 

9 THE SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR 

10 IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION. 

11 (a) DUTIES.—Section 1054(a) of the John Warner 

12 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 

13 (Public Law 109–364; 120 Stat. 2397) is amended by in14 serting ‘‘or any subsequent fiscal year’’ after ‘‘fiscal year 

15 2006’’. 

16 (b) TERMINATION.—Section 3001(o) of the Emer17 gency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense and 

18 for the Reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan, 2004 

19 (Public Law 108–106; 117 Stat. 1238; 5 U.S.C. App., 

20 note to section 8G of Public Law 95–452), as amended 

21 by section 1054(b) of Public Law 109–364 and section 

22 2 of the Iraq Reconstruction Accountability Act of 2006 

23 (Public Law 109–440), is amended in paragraph (1)(B) 

24 by inserting ‘‘or any subsequent fiscal year’’ after ‘‘fiscal 

25 year 2006’’. 


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1 SEC. 202. STUDY AND REPORT ON DAMAGE TO IRAQI CIVIL 

2 SOCIETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE. 

3 (a) STUDY.—The President of the United States, act4 ing through the heads of the relevant departments and 

5 agencies of the Government of the United States and in 

6 consultation with the Government of Iraq, is authorized 

7 to conduct a study on the damage to Iraqi civil society 

8 and infrastructure as a result of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

9 (b) REPORT.—The President shall transmit to Con10 gress a report that contains the results of the study con11 ducted pursuant to subsection (a). 

12 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

13 authorized to be appropriated to the President to carry 

14 out this section $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. 

15 SEC. 203. ASSISTANCE TO ESTABLISH AN IRAQI RECON16 STRUCTION CORPS. 

17 (a) ASSISTANCE.—The President of the United 

18 States is authorized to provide assistance to the Govern19 ment of Iraq to establish and train an Iraqi reconstruction 

20 corps to rebuild the infrastructure of Iraq. To the max21 imum extent practicable, the Iraqi reconstruction corps 

22 should carry out its activities in accordance with the re23 sults of the study conducted pursuant to section 202. 

24 (b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—Assistance under this 

25 section may be provided on such terms and conditions as 

26 the President may determine. 


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1 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

2 authorized to be appropriated to the President to carry 

3 out this section $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. 

4 SEC. 204. ASSISTANCE FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF LAND 

5 MINES AND RELATED ACTIVITIES IN IRAQ. 

6 (a) ASSISTANCE.—The President of the United 

7 States is authorized to provide assistance for the destruc8 tion of land mines, unexploded ordnance, and clean-up of 

9 depleted uranium in artillery shells and related targets in 

10 Iraq. 

11 (b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—Assistance under this 

12 section may be provided on such terms and conditions as 

13 the President may determine. 

14 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 

16 appropriated to the President to carry out this sec17 tion $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. 

18 (2) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES.—Amounts ap19 propriated pursuant to the authorization of appro20 priations under paragraph (1)— 

21 (A) may be referred to as the ‘‘Iraqi 

22 Demining Fund’’; 

23 (B) are authorized to remain available 

24 until expended; and 


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1 (C) are in addition to amounts otherwise 

2 available for such purposes. 

3 SEC. 205. ASSISTANCE TO DISMANTLE AND DISPOSE OF 

4 FORTIFICATIONS AND OTHER REMNANTS OF 

5 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. 

6 (a) ASSISTANCE.—The President of the United 

7 States is authorized to provide assistance to the Govern8 ment of Iraq to dismantle and dispose of fortifications, 

9 including concrete walls, and other remnants of Operation 

10 Iraqi Freedom. 

11 (b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—Assistance under this section 

13 may be provided on such terms and conditions as 

14 the President may determine. 

15 (2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 

16 Congress that, to the maximum extent practicable, 

17 priority should be given to train and hire Iraqi civil18 ians to carry out the activities described in sub19 section (a) and to allocate funds to local units of 

20 government in Iraq, including village, town, and city 

21 councils, to carry out the activities described in sub22 section (a). 

23 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

24 authorized to be appropriated to the President to carry 

25 out this section $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. 


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1 SEC. 206. ASSISTANCE TO RECOVER ANCIENT RELICS AND 

2 TO RESTORE ARCHEOLOGICAL, CULTURAL, 

3 AND HISTORICAL SITES IN IRAQ. 

4 (a) ASSISTANCE.—The President of the United 

5 States is authorized to provide assistance to recover an6 cient relics and to restore archeological, cultural, and his7 torical sites of international significance and importance 

8 in Iraq. 

9 (b) GRANT REQUIREMENT.—To the maximum extent 

10 practicable, assistance under this section shall be provided 

11 in the form of grants to a consortium that includes the 

12 Iraqi Museum of Antiquities, the Smithsonian Institution, 

13 the World Monuments Fund, and the Oriental Institute 

14 of the University of Chicago. 

15 (c) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—Assistance under this section 

17 may be provided on such terms and conditions as 

18 the President may determine. 

19 (2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 

20 Congress that, to the maximum extent practicable, 

21 priority should be given to train and hire Iraqi civil22 ians to carry out the activities described in sub23 section (a) and to allocate funds to local units of 

24 government in Iraq, including village, town, and city 

25 councils, to carry out the activities described in sub26 section (a). 


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1 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

2 authorized to be appropriated to the President to carry 

3 out this section $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. 

4 SEC. 207. COMPENSATION FOR IRAQI NONCOMBATANT CI5 VILIAN CASUALTIES. 

6 (a) DETERMINATION AND CERTIFICATION OF

7 CLAIMS.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall deter9 mine the validity and amount of each claim by a cit10 izen or national of Iraq for loss of property or per11 sonal injury or death resulting from United States 

12 military operations in Iraq during the period begin13 ning on March 19, 2003, and ending 6 months after 

14 the date of enactment of this Act. Any claim under 

15 this section shall be barred unless it is filed with the 

16 Commission within 3 years after the date of enact17 ment of this Act. The Commission shall publish in 

18 the Federal Register, and in the media to which 

19 Iraqi citizens have easy access, the procedures for 

20 making a claim with the Commission under this sec21 tion. The Commission shall certify to each claimant 

22 the amount determined by the Commission to be 

23 payable on the claim under this section. 

24 (2) EXCLUSIONS.—The Commission shall deny 

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1 sonal injury or death under paragraph (1) of any 

2 person who participated in the armed insurgency in 

3 Iraq after May 1, 2003. 

4 (b) APPLICABLE LAW.—In deciding claims under 

5 subsection (a), the Commission shall apply, in the fol6 lowing order— 

7 (1) applicable substantive law, including inter8 national law; and 

9 (2) applicable principles of justice and equity. 

10 (c) APPLICABILITY OF INTERNATIONAL CLAIMS SET11 TLEMENT ACT.—To the extent they are not inconsistent 

12 with the provisions of this act, the provisions of title I 

13 (other than section 2(c) ) and title VII of the International 

14 Claims Settlement Act of 1949 (22 U.S.C. 1621–1627 and 

15 1645–1645o) shall apply with respect to claims under this 

16 section. 

17 (d) NOTICE AND HEARINGS.—The Secretary of State 

18 shall take the necessary steps to ensure that the people 

19 of Iraq have adequate notice of the process for making 

20 a claim under this section. The Commission may conduct 

21 hearings at places in Iraq in order to facilitate the claims 

22 process under this section. The Commission shall consult 

23 with appropriate representatives of Iraqi citizens in deter24 mining claims under this section. 


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1 (e) CLAIMS FUND.—The Secretary of the Treasury 

2 is authorized to establish in the Treasury of the United 

3 States a fund (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Iraq 

4 Claims Fund’’) for payment of claims certified under sub5 section (a). The Secretary of the Treasury shall cover into 

6 the Iraq Claims Fund such amounts as are appropriated 

7 to the fund pursuant to subsection (k). 

8 (f) CERTIFICATION OF AMOUNT OF CLAIMS.—The 

9 Commission shall certify to the Secretary of the Treasury 

10 each award made pursuant to subsection (a). The Sec11 retary of the Treasury shall make payments on each such 

12 award, in the following order of priority to the extent 

13 funds are available pursuant to this section: 

14 (1) Payment of $10,000 or the principal 

15 amount, whichever is less. 

16 (2) Payments from time to time in ratable pro17 portions on account of the unpaid balance of the 

18 principal amounts of all awards according to the 

19 proportions which the unpaid balance of such 

20 awards bears to the total amount in the Iraq Claims 

21 Fund that is available for distribution at the time 

22 such payments are made. 

23 (3) After payment has been made of the prin24 cipal amounts of all such awards, pro rate payments 


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1 on account of accrued interest on such awards as 

2 bear interest. 

3 (g) AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER RECORDS.—The head 

4 of any executive agency may transfer or otherwise make 

5 available to the Commission such records and documents 

6 relating to claims authorized to be determined under this 

7 section as may be required by the Commission in carrying 

8 out its functions under this section. 

9 (h) STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS; PUBLICATION NO10 TICE.— 

11 (1) STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.—Any demand 

12 or claim for payment on account of an award that 

13 is certified under this section shall be barred on and 

14 after the date that is 2 years after the date on which 

15 notice is published under paragraph (2). 

16 (2) PUBLICATION OF NOTICE.— 

17 (A) PUBLICATION.—At the end of the 1- 

18 year period specified in subparagraph (B), the 

19 Secretary of the Treasury shall publish notice 

20 in the Federal Register, and in the media to 

21 which Iraqi citizens have easy access, detailing 

22 the statute of limitations provided for in para23 graph (1) and identifying the claim numbers of, 

24 and the names of the claimants holding, unpaid 

25 certified claims. 


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1 (B) PUBLICATION DATE.—The notice re2 quired by subparagraph (A) shall be published 

3 1 year after the last date on which the Sec4 retary of the Treasury covers into the Iraq 

5 Claims Fund amounts appropriated to that 

6 fund pursuant to subsection (k). 

7 (i) DISPOSITION OF UNUSED FUNDS.—At the end of 

8 the 2-year period beginning on the publication date of the 

9 notice required by subsection (h)(2), the Secretary of the 

10 Treasury shall deposit in the Treasury of the United 

11 States as miscellaneous receipts all funds remaining in the 

12 Iraq Claims Fund that are not used for payments of cer13 tified claims under this section. 

14 (j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

15 (1) EXECUTIVE AGENCY.—The term ‘‘executive 

16 agency’’ has the meaning given that term by section 

17 105 of title 5, United States Code. 

18 (2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘commission’’ 

19 means the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission 

20 of the United States. 

21 (k) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

22 are authorized to be appropriated not less than 

23 $200,000,000 to pay claims under this section. Amounts 

24 appropriated pursuant to this subsection shall remain 

25 available until expended. 


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1 SEC. 208. ASSISTANCE TO ESTABLISH AN IRAQI INSTITUTE 

2 OF PEACE. 

3 (a) ASSISTANCE.—The President of the United 

4 States is authorized to provide assistance to the Govern5 ment of Iraq to establish an independent, nonprofit Iraqi 

6 institute of peace to serve the people and Government of 

7 Iraq. To the maximum extent practicable, the Iraqi insti8 tute of peace should provide the widest possible range of 

9 education and training, basic and applied research oppor10 tunities, and peace information services on the means to 

11 promote domestic tranquility and international peace and 

12 the resolution of conflicts without recourse to violence. 

13 (b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—Assistance under this 

14 section may be provided on such terms and conditions as 

15 the President may determine. 

16 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

17 authorized to be appropriated to the President to carry 

18 out this section $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. 

19 Subtitle B—Multilateral Assistance 

20 SEC. 211. INTERNATIONAL FUND TO REDEVELOP CIVIC IN21 STITUTIONS IN IRAQ. 

22 (a) INTERNATIONAL FUND.—The President of the 

23 United States is authorized to seek to establish an inter24 national fund to redevelop civic institutions in Iraq and 

25 to make United States contributions to the international 

26 fund. 


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1 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con2 gress that the international fund described in subsection 

3 (a) should provide incentives for the return of exiled or 

4  ́emigre ́ Iraqi doctors, nurses, educators, jurists, engineers, 

5 attorneys, writers, journalists, and other professionals and 

6 the training of additional Iraqis in essential professions 

7 and services. 

8 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

9 authorized to be appropriated to the President to carry 

10 out this section $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. 

11 SEC. 212. INTERNATIONAL FUND TO RECONSTITUTE THE 

12 PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM IN IRAQ. 

13 (a) INTERNATIONAL FUND.—The President of the 

14 United States is authorized to seek to establish an inter15 national fund to reconstitute the public health system in 

16 Iraq and to make United States contributions to the inter17 national fund. To the maximum extent practicable, the 

18 international fund should be supervised and administered 

19 jointly by the World Health Organization, the United Na20 tions Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Pro21 gram, and the Food and Agriculture Organization. 

22 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con23 gress that the international fund described in subsection 

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1 ics in Iraq and the purchase of diagnostic and therapeutic 

2 equipment and services for hospitals and clinics in Iraq. 

3 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

4 authorized to be appropriated to the President to carry 

5 out this section $1,700,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. 

6 TITLE III—GUARANTEED 

7 HEALTH CARE FOR VET8 ERANS OF OPERATION IRAQI 

9 FREEDOM AND OTHER CON10 FLICTS 

11 SEC. 301. ASSURANCE OF ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR VET12 ERANS HEALTH CARE. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 38, United 

14 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol15 lowing new section: 

16 ‘‘§ 321. Assured funding for veterans health care 

17 ‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—For each fiscal year, 

18 the Secretary of the Treasury shall make available to the 

19 Secretary of Veterans Affairs the amount determined 

20 under subsection (b) with respect to that fiscal year. Each 

21 such amount is available, without fiscal year limitation, 

22 for the programs, functions, and activities of the Veterans 

23 Health Administration, as specified in subsection (c). 

24 ‘‘(b) AMOUNT.—(1) The amount applicable to fiscal 

25 year 2008 under this subsection is the amount equal to 


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1 130 percent of the amount obligated by the Department 

2 during fiscal year 2006 for the purposes specified in sub3 section (c). 

4 ‘‘(2) The amount applicable to any fiscal year after 

5 fiscal year 2008 under this subsection is the amount equal 

6 to the product of the following: 

7 ‘‘(A) The sum of— 

8 ‘‘(i) the number of veterans enrolled in the 

9 Department health care system under section 

10 1705 of this title as of July 1 preceding the be11 ginning of such fiscal year; and 

12 ‘‘(ii) the number of persons eligible for 

13 health care under chapter 17 of this title who 

14 are not covered by clause (i) and who were pro15 vided hospital care or medical services under 

16 such chapter at any time during the fiscal year 

17 preceding such fiscal year. 

18 ‘‘(B) The per capita baseline amount, as in19 creased from time to time pursuant to paragraph 

20 (3)(B). 

21 ‘‘(3)(A) For purposes of paragraph (2)(B), the term 

22 ‘per capita baseline amount’ means the amount equal to— 

23 ‘‘(i) the amount specified in paragraph (1), di24 vided by 


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1 ‘‘(ii) the number of veterans enrolled in the De2 partment health care system under section 1705 of 

3 this title as of the date of the enactment of this sec4 tion. 

5 ‘‘(B) With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary 

6 shall provide a percentage increase (rounded to the near7 est dollar) in the per capita baseline amount equal to the 

8 percentage by which— 

9 ‘‘(i) the Consumer Price Index (all Urban Con10 sumers, United States City Average, Hospital and 

11 related services, Seasonally Adjusted), published by 

12 the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of 

13 Labor for the 12-month period ending on the June 

14 30 preceding the beginning of the fiscal year for 

15 which the increase is made, exceeds 

16 ‘‘(ii) such Consumer Price Index for the 12- 

17 month period preceding the 12-month period de18 scribed in clause (i). 

19 ‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.—(1) Except as provided in 

20 paragraph (2), the purposes for which amounts made 

21 available pursuant to subsection (a) shall be all programs, 

22 functions, and activities of the Veterans Health Adminis23 tration. 

24 ‘‘(2) Amounts made available pursuant to subsection 

25 (a) are not available for— 


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1 ‘‘(A) construction, acquisition, or alteration of 

2 medical facilities as provided in subchapter I of 

3 chapter 81 of this title (other than for such repairs 

4 as were provided for before the date of the enact5 ment of this section through the Medical Care ap6 propriation for the Department); or 

7 ‘‘(B) grants under subchapter III of chapter 81 

8 of this title.’’. 

9 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

10 at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 

11 at the end the following new item: 

‘‘321. Assured funding for veterans health care.’’. 

12 TITLE IV—ESTABLISHMENT OF 

13 JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE 

14 TO REVIEW THE ORIGINS AND 

15 CONDUCT OF OPERATION 

16 IRAQI FREEDOM 

17 SEC. 401. ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE. 

18 There is hereby established in the Congress the Joint 

19 Select Committee to Review the Origins and Conduct of 

20 Operation Iraqi Freedom (hereafter in this title referred 

21 to as the ‘‘Joint Select Committee’’). 

22 SEC. 402. DUTIES. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Joint Select Committee shall 

24 have authority— 


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1 (1) to conduct a comprehensive study and re2 view of the origins and conduct of the United States 

3 military intervention in Iraq ordered on March 19, 

4 2003 and its aftermath; and 

5 (2) to make recommendations to the House of 

6 Representatives and Senate for such legislation or 

7 other action the Joint Select Committee considers 

8 necessary in response to its findings under the study 

9 and review conducted under paragraph (1) and to 

10 submit such recommendations directly to the com11 mittees of the House and Senate with jurisdiction 

12 over the legislation or other action. 

13 (b) REPORTS.— 

14 (1) INTERIM.—The Joint Select Committee 

15 may submit such interim reports to Congress on its 

16 activities and findings as it considers appropriate. 

17 (2) FINAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.— 

18 Not later than December 31, 2008, the Joint Select 

19 Committee shall submit a final report to Congress 

20 on its activities and findings, and shall include in 

21 the report all of the recommendations described in 

22 subsection (a)(2). 

23 (c) NO LEGISLATIVE JURISDICTION.—The Joint Se24 lect Committee shall not have legislative jurisdiction. 


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1 SEC. 403. MEMBERSHIP. 

2 (a) COMPOSITION AND APPOINTMENT.— 

3 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Joint Select Committee 

4 shall be composed of 18 Members of the House of 

5 Representatives and Senate, of whom— 

6 (A) 9 shall be Members of the House of 

7 Representatives and shall be appointed by the 

8 Speaker of the House of Representatives in con9 sultation with the Minority Leader of the House 

10 of Representatives; and 

11 (B) 9 shall be Members of the Senate and 

12 shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of 

13 the Senate in consultation with the Minority 

14 Leader of the Senate. 

15 (2) TREATMENT OF DELEGATE AND RESIDENT

16 COMMISSIONER.—For purposes of this subsection, a 

17 ‘‘Member’’ of the House of Representatives includes 

18 a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Con19 gress. 

20 (b) CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR.—At the time of ap21 pointment, one of the members of the Joint Select Com22 mittee shall be designated jointly by the Speaker and Ma23 jority Leader as the chair of the Joint Select Committee 

24 and one shall be designated jointly by the Speaker and 

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1 mittee. The chair and vice-chair may not be Members of 

2 the same House of Congress. 

3 (c) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the membership of the 

4 Joint Select Committee shall not affect the power of the 

5 remaining members to execute the functions of the Joint 

6 Select Committee, and shall be filled in the same manner 

7 as in the case of the original appointment. 

8 SEC. 404. POWERS. 

9 (a) HEARINGS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.—For the 

10 purpose of carrying out its duties, during the present Con11 gress the Joint Select Committee may hold such hearings 

12 and undertake such other activities as the Joint Select 

13 Committee determines to be necessary to carry out its du14 ties, whether the Congress is in session, has recessed, or 

15 has adjourned. 

16 (b) OBTAINING INFORMATION.— 

17 (1) AUTHORITY TO USE SUBPOENAS.—The 

18 Joint Select Committee may require by subpoena the 

19 attendance of such witnesses and the production of 

20 such books, papers, and documents, as it considers 

21 appropriate. 

22 (2) PROCEDURES.—Subpoenas may be issued 

23 over the signature of the chair of the Joint Select 

24 Committee or of any member designated by the 

25 chair or by the Joint Select Committee to the extent 


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1 the chairman or such member is authorized by a 

2 majority of the joint committee to issue such sub3 poenas, and may be served by any person designated 

4 by such chairman or member. 

5 (c) ACCESS TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH SERVICES.— 

6 The Joint Select Committee shall have access to the serv7 ices of the Government Accountability Office, the Congres8 sional Budget Office, and the Congressional Research 

9 Service in the same manner and under the same terms 

10 and conditions as any standing committee of the House 

11 of Representatives or Senate. 

12 SEC. 405. STAFF. 

13 (a) APPOINTMENT OF STAFF.—The chair of the 

14 Joint Select Committee may appoint and fix the pay of 

15 such personnel as the chair considers appropriate to assist 

16 the Joint Select Committee in carrying out its duties, ex17 cept that no individual appointed under this authority may 

18 receive pay at a rate greater than the highest annual rate 

19 of pay which may be paid to any employee of the House 

20 of Representatives whose salary is paid exclusively out of 

21 a Members’ Representational Allowance. 

22 (b) DETAIL OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—Upon the 

23 request of the Joint Select Committee, the head of any 

24 Federal agency or of any office in the legislative branch 

25 is authorized to detail, without reimbursement, any of the 


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1 personnel of such agency or office to the Joint Select Com2 mittee to assist the Joint Select Committee in carrying 

3 out its duties. 

4 SEC. 406. FUNDING. 

5 (a) VOUCHERS.—Payments for expenses of the Joint 

6 Select Committee shall be made using vouchers authorized 

7 by the Joint Select Committee, signed by the chair of the 

8 Joint Select Committee, and approved in a manner di9 rected by the Committee on Rules and Administration of 

10 the Senate and the Committee on House Administration 

11 of the House of Representatives. 

12 (b) SOURCE OF FUNDS.—There are authorized to be 

13 appropriated such sums as may be necessary for the oper14 ation of the Joint Select Committee, of which— 

15 (1) 50 percent shall be derived from the appli16 cable accounts of the House of Representatives; and 

17 (2) 50 percent shall be derived from the contin18 gent fund of the Senate. 

19 SEC. 407. TERMINATION. 

20 (a) TERMINATION DATE.—The Joint Select Com21 mittee shall terminate not later than 15 days after submit22 ting the final report and recommendations required under 

23 section 402(b)(2). 

24 (b) TRANSFER OF RECORDS.—Upon termination of 

25 the Joint Select Committee, the records of the Joint Select 


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1 Committee shall be transferred jointly to, and held jointly 

2 by, the Clerk of the House of Representatives and Sec3 retary of the Senate. 

Æ 


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