I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2486 
To keep faith with the thousands of Iraqi nationals who have risked every-
thing by assisting and working for the United States Government and 
United States Armed Forces in Iraq, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 24, 2007 
Mr. ACKERMAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judi-
ciary, 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 keep faith with the thousands of Iraqi nationals who 
have risked everything by assisting and working for the 
United States Government and United States Armed 
Forces in Iraq, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. LONG TITLE AND SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be referred to as the ‘‘President Gerald 
R. Ford Iraqi Ally and Refugee Responsibility Memorial 
Act of 2007’’. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
07:13 May 28, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2486.IH
H2486
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS REGARDING IRAQI REF-
UGEES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) President George W. Bush, asserting a 
grave and immediate threat to the United States 
from Iraqi weapons of mass destruction (WMD), 
asked Congress to provide an authorization for the 
use of military force against Iraq if Iraq did not 
comply with international disarmament require-
ments. 
(2) Passed by Congress, President Bush signed 
H.J. Res. 114, To Authorize the Use of United 
States Armed Forces Against Iraq, into law on Oc-
tober 16, 2002, becoming Public Law 107–243. 
(3) On March 20, 2003, at the direction of 
President Bush, United States Armed Forces, to-
gether with Coalition partners, initiated Operation 
Iraqi Freedom pursuant to Public Law 107–243, 
and within 30 days the government of Saddam Hus-
sein was removed from power. 
(4) In keeping with United States obligations 
under the Geneva Conventions, customary inter-
national law, and a subsequent mandate by the 
United Nations Security Council, as the principle oc-
cupying power, the United States took temporary re-
sponsibility for Iraq, establishing first the Office for 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
17:26 May 30, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2486.IH
H2486
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS
Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, and 
subsequently, the Coalition Provisional Authority. 
(5) As the principle occupying power, the 
United States enacted a broad institutional trans-
formation in Iraq in order to establish a new and 
democratic Iraqi Government. 
(6) Under United States direction and control, 
Iraqis adopted a transitional national assembly, 
adopted a new constitution, conducted parliamentary 
elections, and established a new government that re-
mains incapable of establishing and maintaining law 
and order. 
(7) During the United States occupation and 
subsequent to the return of sovereignty to Iraq, 
‘‘[s]everal thousand’’ Iraqis in Iraq have come to 
work for the United States Government and Armed 
Forces, according to Ellen Sauerbrey, Assistant Sec-
retary of State for Population, Refugees and Migra-
tion. 
(8) The ongoing instability and chaos, violence, 
and ethnic, religious, and sectarian conflict in Iraq 
have prompted nearly 4,000,000 Iraqis to become 
refugees or internally displaced persons. 
(9) Iraqis who have assisted or worked for the 
United States are widely considered to be ‘‘collabo-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
07:13 May 28, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2486.IH
H2486
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS
rators’’ by other Iraqis, and they face a real and 
persistent fear of persecution, physical harm, or 
death, to themselves and their families. 
(10) There is currently no facility within Iraq 
where refugees or displaced persons can register 
with either the United States Government or with 
the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. 
(11) The internally displaced Iraqi population is 
estimated by the United Nations High Commissioner 
for Refugees (UNHCR) to be 1,900,000, with that 
number growing by 50,000 each month. 
(12) The Iraqi refugee population of approxi-
mately 2,000,000 has imposed tremendous costs on 
countries neighboring Iraq, many of which are poor 
and struggling with other large refugee populations 
within their borders. 
(13) The United States has admitted only 692 
Iraqi refugees since 2003. 
(14) The special immigrant visa program for 
Iraqi and Afghan translators working for the United 
States Armed Forces established under section 1059 
of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2006 has a six year waiting list. 
(15) Paula Dobriansky, Undersecretary of 
State for Democracy and Global Affairs, announced 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
17:26 May 30, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2486.IH
H2486
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS