TWICHUL13

The bill, HR 1585, authorizes programs and spending levels for procurement by all branches of the military, troop strengths, includes additional funds for Iraq and Afghanistan and, through amendment activity in particular, sets some US policies regarding military activities in Iraq and the Middle East in general including Iran.

The White House holds that it "strongly opposes amendments to the bill to restrict the ability of the United States to deal effectively with the threats to regional security posed by the conduct of Iran, including Iran’s efforts to develop nuclear weapons." and "If the bill were presented to the President with provisions that would prevent the President from protecting America and allied and cooperating nations from threats posed by Iran, the President’s senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill."

Amendments Relating to Iran

House

A House amendment prohibiting funds for planning a contingency operation in Iran was defeated and another prohibiting funds for taking military action against Iran unless authorized by Congress was also defeated when the bill was debated in May. {House Amendments}

Senate

An amendment by Sen. Lieberman (I-CT) (SA 2073) was agreed to but was modified in a verbal agreement to clarify that the amendment does not authorize US military action against Iran.

The Lieberman amendment requires that 30 days after enactment of HR 1585 the Secretary of State and US Commander of multi-national forces in Iraq submit a report to Congress assessing, in detail, any external support or direction provided to anti-coalition forces by agents of the Islamic Republic of Iran, (GIRI) the strategy and ambitions in Iraq of the GIRI, and any counter-strategy or efforts by the US government to counter the activities of agents of GIRI in Iraq. Reports shall be unclassified but may include a classified annex. The amendment as modified was agreed to 97 to 0.

An amendment by Senator Sessions (R-AL) (SA 2024) sets policy on defending against the threat that Iran may combine nuclear ambitions with a ballistic missile system and so threaten the US and its allies in the region. The missile defense would be compatible with NATO missile defenses in Europe. The amendment was agreed to 90 to 5.

Other Senate Amendments

In the Senate, an amendment by Sen. Webb (D-VA) (SA 2012) required time between deployments to be at least as long as the previous deployment for regular troops and for a minimum of a three year break for reserves. A presidential waiver was included but the amendment failed, 56 to 41, to receive the 60 votes necessary to proceed to a final vote.

An amendment by Sen. Hagel (R-NE) (SA 2032) required that Army troops and units could not be deployed for longer than 12 consecutive months, Marines for no longer than 7 consecutive months. The schedules could be waived by the President in regard to a national emergency after consultation with Congress. The amendment failed, 52 to 45, to receive the 60 votes necessary to proceed to a final vote.

Other Senate amendment activity added increased healthcare attention and benefits to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with an emphasis on increasing spending for and improving diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury, a disablement frequently suffered by troops in Iraq.

An amendment by Sen. Dorgan (D-ND) places a $50 million dollar reward on Osama bin Laden and requires a report on efforts to capture him and other al Qaeda leaders, prospects of where they might be hiding and cooperation from countries in which the might be hiding. The report also requires an assessment of the threat al Qaeda currently poses to the US.

{Cloture vote on Webb amendment 2012}

{Cloture cote on Hagel amendment 2032}

(Vote on Lieberman amendment 2073}

{Vote on Sessions amendments 2024}

{Vote on the Dorgan amendment 2135}

{HR 1585 with House amendments and votes}

{Senate amendments to HR 1585}

(House amendments to HR 1585}

HOUSE VOTES T0 WITHDRAW TROOPS FROM IRAQ

The bill requires that the Secretary of Defense begin withdrawal of troops from Iraq within 120 days with completion by April 1, 2007. The legislation authorizing the President to use military force was based on the conclusion that the then Iraq Government was a threat to US national security. With that Government removed and replaced by one that is not a threat to national security, it is the sense of Congress that the Iraqi Security Forces should now be responsible for that country's future.

The reduction of troops is to be done in a responsible and orderly way with emphasis on protection of US troops. A minimum of military personnel would remain to protect US national security interests.

A comprehensive strategy for Iraq is ordered. The strategy will include "US national security interests in Iraq and the broader Middle East region and the diplomatic, political, economic and military components of a comprehensive strategy to maintain and advance those interests as the Forces are being redeployed from Iraq" and other provisions.

Opposition to the bill held that it authorizes admitting defeat and is contradictory to the recent bill (HR 2206) that authorized and funded the current troop surge strategy. Congress should give that effort the opportunity to be implemented and wait for the required report on progress in September 2007, the hold.

The bill passed the House 223 to 201 (RC 624 )

{HR 2956}

HOUSE PASSES EDUCATION FUNDING

Bill Cuts $19 Million From Lender's Profits, Lowers Interest Rates

Database Would require Colleges to Post Accurate Cost Data On-Line

Adhering to the House Budget Committee requirements to produce $750 million in deficit reduction, the House passed the bill after cutting $19 billion from lender's profits and subsidies and reinvested $18.25 billion to reduce borrowing rates and increase Pell Grant amounts.

Individual Pell Grants are raised by $500 in 2012 and total grants per individual are raised to $11,600. Interest rates on student loans, now at 6.8% would rise to 6.12% next year and then drop yearly to 4.4% in 2012 before returning to 6.8% in 2013.

The bill provides incentives to colleges that limit or reduce the cost of education and aims to improve teacher quality through incentives to schools providing high quality teacher education and other incentives.

In addition to loan interest rates deductions over five years the bill also provides for some loan forgiveness to those who enter public service fields such as police, firefighting, nursing and other fields of national need. The loan debt could be forgiven up to $1000 per year over five years.

The Minority motion to recommit the bill to the committee prior to final vote centered on concerns that the loan forgiveness could be extended to those who enter public office or to lobbyists. The Majority held that it would address those concerns upon written notification from the Minority but that the wording of the motion required the bill be returned to committee and reported back to the House 'promptly' rather than 'forthwith', The Majority held that the wording would 'kill' the bill. The definitions of 'promptly' and 'forthwith' describe how quickly the bill would be returned stalling passage. The motion to recommit failed on a vote of 199 to 223 (RC 612 )

{HR 2669 Report with Amendments and Votes}-Includes Minority view

Bills Would Improve Public Housing; Extend Refugee Benefits; Investigate Foreign Investment in US; Aid Passport Backlog.

Kidney Transplant Scheme Validated

Inspections of Public Housing would be increased under the bill with funds withheld from landlords until violations are corrected. The formula for qualifying tenants by income is revised.

{HR 1851}

Benefits for refugees, asylees and other humanitarian based immigrants in the US are extended for two years as they wait to become citizens.

{HR 2608}

The President is directed to review foreign investments from the perspective of promoting the investments and protecting national security.

{HR 556}

A 33% increase in passport applications has created a backlog this bill aims to reduce by hiring retired Foreign Service Officers to take up the slack.

{S 966}

The interpretation of current law is clarified to allow for 'paired donations' of kidneys involving one recipient and two donors.

{HR 710}

Week Ending July 20th

The Senate Will Continue Consideration of HR 1585, Defense Authorizations