New Direction for Iraq Act of 2007

To redeploy United States Armed Forces from Iraq and to establish a new direction for United States policy toward Iraq.

1/24/2007--Introduced.
New Direction for Iraq Act of 2007 - Prohibits Department of Defense (DOD) funds from being obligated or expended to increase the number of U.S. Armed Forces serving in Iraq so that the total number serving in Iraq at any time exceeds the number serving in Iraq as of the date of the enactment of this Act unless the increase is specifically authorized by Congress. Directs the Secretary of Defense to begin the redeployment of U.S. Armed Forces from Iraq within 30 days of enactment of this Act, which shall be completed in the shortest appropriate time frame. (Expresses the sense of Congress that the shortest appropriate time frame should be no longer than one year.) Prohibits:
(1) permanent or long-term U.S. military installations in Iraq; and
(2) U.S. actions to control Iraqi oil reserves. Provides for assistance to Iraq for:
(1) reconstruction and economic development through Iraqi businesses and nationals;
(2) promotion of democracy and civil society; and
(3) disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of militias. Authorizes the President to terminate all contracts with a contractor having more than one federal Iraqi reconstruction contract for non-fulfillment of one such contract. Expresses the sense of Congress that:
(1) the Attorney General should seek to prosecute criminal fraud in the awarding and carrying out of federal contracts for Iraq reconstruction; and
(2) the appropriate House and Senate committees should investigate the awarding and carrying out of specified Iraq-related contracts. Directs the President, through the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, to:
(1) undertake a regional diplomatic effort to promote stability in Iraq; and
(2) undertake a renewed effort towards securing Israeli-Palestinian peace on a basis similar to the parameters for peace presented to Israel and the Palestinian Authority by former President Bill Clinton in December 2000 and the unofficial Geneva Accords of 2003. Directs the President, in partnership with the government of Iraq, to develop reconciliation, security, and governance benchmarks. Expresses the sense of Congress that further political and economic support for Iraq should be conditioned on significant progress towards achieving such benchmarks. Directs the President to appoint a Special Envoy for Iraq Reconciliation. Directs the President, for any country with a significant Iraqi refugee population, to:
(1) seek to negotiate a bilateral refugee resettlement agreement for such refugees' U.S. admission; or
(2) devise strategies, in consultation with the host government and international organizations and agencies, for provision of assistance to facilitate such refugees' host country integration.

... morehide bill summarySee Full Bill Text

Sponsor

• Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D, OR-3]
• and 11 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Thomas Allen [D, ME-1]
  • Rep. Tammy Baldwin [D, WI-2]
  • Rep. Timothy Bishop [D, NY-1]
  • Rep. Peter DeFazio [D, OR-4]
  • Rep. Sam Farr [D, CA-17]
  • Rep. Chaka Fattah [D, PA-2]
  • Rep. John Hall [D, NY-19]
  • Rep. Phil Hare [D, IL-17]
  • Rep. Eddie Johnson [D, TX-30]
  • Rep. Carolyn Maloney [D, NY-14]
  • Rep. Fortney Stark [D, CA-13]
  close

Committees

• House Armed Services
• 1 more
  • House Foreign Affairs
  close

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.663

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
January 24, 2007

Show All Actions (12 actions)Hide Actions

All Bill Actions

• Oct 02, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H11074)
• Mar 20, 2007: Committee Hearings Held.
• Feb 06, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1214)
• Feb 06, 2007: Introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1214)
• Jan 24, 2007: Referred to House Armed Services
• Jan 24, 2007: Referred to House Foreign Affairs
• Jan 24, 2007: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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.
• Jan 24, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E186-187)
• Introduced on Jan 24, 2007.
• Jan 24, 2007: Introductory remarks on measure. (CR E186-187)
• Jan 09, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E125)
• Jan 09, 2007: Introductory remarks on measure. (CR E125)

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Blog Coverage

October 24, 2007 Iraq: Negotiating a Lasting Peace

Congressman Blumenauer has outlined a comprehensive plan for Iraq (HR 663) that includes a provision regarding an Iraqi Peace Conference. There are other bills pending that can also be used as the vehicles for accomplishing this goal, ...

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October 06, 2007 My Foreign Policy Interview with Bill Richardson

Nonpartisan: Congressman Earl Blumenauer has introduced HR 663, the “New Direction for Iraq Act” — a comprehensive exit strategy for Iraq. According to Congressman Blumenauer’s diary at Daily Kos, his plan includes the following ...

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September 10, 2007 Gag rule over lunch

From the beginning, I have been an active and vocal opponent of his failed war in Iraq and have introduced comprehensive legislation, HR 663, to bring our troops home. I have pledged to vote against any additional funds for military ...

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