Honoring the service and sacrifice of members of the United States Armed Forces on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.

Whereas in Public Law 107–243 Whereas, on March 19, 2003, the United States Armed Forces began military operations in Iraq, with the objective of disarming and removing Saddam Hussein and his regime; Whereas, on April 9, 2003, with the removal of a statue of Saddam Hussein in Firdos Square in Baghdad by members of the United States Armed Forces and Iraqi civilians, the United States Armed Forces and coalition forces effectively neutralized the Iraqi Army just three weeks after ground operations began; Whereas, on July 22, 2003, after refusing to surrender, Saddam Hussein’s sons Uday Hussein and Qusay Hussein were killed in a firefight with members of the United States Armed Forces in Mosul; Whereas, on December 13, 2003, acting on information provided through coordinated intelligence activity, members of the United States Armed Forces captured Saddam Hussein in Tikrit; Whereas in 2004, in direct response to an insurgent uprising in Fallujah, approximately 15,000 members of the United States Armed Forces and coalition forces entered the insurgent stronghold and reclaimed the city; Whereas, on October 15, 2005, the new Constitution of Iraq was ratified and two months later the first election for the Iraqi Council of Representatives was facilitated; Whereas, on June 7, 2006, in a significant blow to the insurgent campaign, a United States Air Force airstrike near Baquba killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq; Whereas, on January 10, 2007, with the number of members of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq totaling approximately 140,000, a surge of 21,000 American troops was announced under the banner of A New Way Forward Whereas, on June 1, 2007, in what was called The Awakening Whereas, on September 1, 2008, the United States Armed Forces in Anbar Province formally transferred security responsibilities to Iraqi forces; Whereas, on February 1, 2009, reductions in the number of members of the United States Armed Forces serving in Iraq began; Whereas, on June 30, 2009, the United States Armed Forces withdrew from Baghdad and other cities in accordance with the Status of Forces Agreement between the United States and the Government of Iraq; Whereas, on March 7, 2010, with the support of the United States Armed Forces and coalition forces, Iraqi parliamentary elections are held under the control of Iraqi security forces, with voter turnout registering above 60 percent; Whereas in September 2010, the remaining combat forces of the United States Armed Forces departed from Iraq, prompting the redesignation of the contingency operation from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn; Whereas, on December 18, 2011, all remaining members of the United States Armed Forces departed from Iraq; Whereas between March 2003 and December 2011, more than 1.5 million members of the United States Armed Forces served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn; Whereas 4,486 members of the United States Armed Forces made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn and more than 32,000 members of the United States Armed Forces were wounded during almost nine years of military operations in Iraq; Whereas four Medals of Honor, the highest United States award for military valor, were awarded for service in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn; Whereas at least 327 Silver Stars, 21 Navy Crosses, and 15 Distinguished Service Crosses were awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn; and Whereas March 19, 2013, is the 10th anniversary of the start of United States military operations in Iraq as Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives— (1) extends its gratitude to the more than 1.5 million members of the United States Armed Forces, from both the regular and reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine, who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn; (2) recognizes the success of the United States Armed Forces in operations against a dangerous and determined enemy; (3) recognizes the tremendous personal sacrifice of the members of the United States Armed Forces who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, many of whom were committed to multiple deployments away from loved ones, and the contributions of military families on the homefront; (4) pays tribute to the 4,486 members of the United States Armed Forces who lost their lives in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn; and (5) commits itself to honoring the memory of these heroes for their courage and sacrifice.

Summary: Extends gratitude to the more than 1.5 million members of the U.S. Armed Forces, from both the regular and reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine, who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn. Recognizes their success in operations against a dangerous and determined enemy. Recognizes the tremendous personal sacrifice of those who served in such Operations, many of whom were committed to multiple deployments, and the contributions of military families on the home front. Pays tribute to the 4,486 members who lost their lives in such Operations, and commits to honoring their memory for their courage and sacrifice.