Iraq Reconstruction Improvement Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-1581
Sponsor: Rep. Lantos, Tom [D-CA-12]
Introduced: 2007-03-20 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Advice and consent of the Senate
Auditing
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of State
Displaced persons
Economic assistance
Economic development
Economics and Public Finance
Executive Office of the President
Executive reorganization
Foreign service
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government ethics
Government procurement
Governmental investigations
Immigration
Inspectors general
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Job creation
Labor and Employment
Law
Middle East and North Africa
President and foreign policy
Presidential appointments
Public corruption
Refugees
War relief

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: 
Iraq Reconstruction Improvement Act of 2007 - Directs the the President to: (1) appoint a Coordinator of United States Economic Reconstruction Assistance for Iraq; (2) provide assistance to increase the capacity and improve the sustainability of Iraq's national, provincial, and local governmental institutions; (3) provide assistance for anti-corruption activities in Iraq; (4) provide assistance to support provincial and local reconstruction programs in Iraq; (5) support private sector development and employment programs, including short-term job creation programs, in Iraq; (6) provide assistance to improve the auditing, investigation, and oversight capacity of the Offices of the Inspector General of the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); and (7) provide assistance to improve Department of State and USAID reconstruction contracting capacity in Iraq.
 
Directs the Secretary of State to provide assistance to: (1) refugees from Iraq who have been outside Iraq in a Middle East country since no earlier than March 19, 2003; and (2) internally displaced persons in Iraq who have been outside their original residence since no earlier than March 19, 2003.
 
Increases FY2007-FY2008 refugees admissions in order to admit Iraqi refugees. 
 
Amends the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense and for the Reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan, 2004 to extend authority for the Office of Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.
 
Prohibits Iraq-related contracts from being given to contractors who have overcharged the federal government, committed fraudulent acts, or been suspended under federal regulations. Authorizes waivers in the interest of national security on a case-by-case basis.
 
Directs the Secretary: (1) in consultation with the Administrator of USAID, to establish a Civilian Active Response Corps to provide stabilization and reconstruction activities in foreign countries or regions that are in, are in transition from, or likely to enter into conflict or civil strife; (2) in consultation with relevant executive agencies, to establish a Civilian Reserve Readiness Corps to augment the Active Corps; and (3) to develop an inter-agency stabilization and reconstruction strategy. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-04-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and 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.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and 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.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and 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.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and 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.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Introduced in House