In response to criticism of Bush’s new Iraq strategy, administration officials challenged opponents of the plan to come up with something better. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) urged people to resign themselves to the plan because it was “the only game in town.” These statements ignore the fact that members of Congress have been offering alternative proposals to end the war in Iraq for months. In 2007, several members of Congress once again accepted the challenge and have proposed plans for withdrawing our troops and stabilizing Iraq.

Updated March 26, 2007

SENATE

S. 679
Sponsor: John Kerry (D-MA)
“To provide a comprehensive strategy for stabilizing Iraq and redeploying United States troops from Iraq within one year.”

Cosponsors: none
Kerry’s bill calls on President Bush to complete redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq within one year.  It also includes a declaration of no intention to build permanent bases in Iraq, a renewed diplomatic initiative in the region, and a repudiation of the original congressional authorization of the war in 2002.

S.J.Res. 3
Sponsor: Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
“To specify an expiration date for the authorization of use of military force under the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.”

Cosponsors: None
S.J.Res. 3 sets December 31, 2007 as the expiration date for congressional authorization for the war in Iraq.  U.S. troops would only be allowed to remain after that date for limited activities, including training and targeted counterterrorism operations. 

S. 448
Sponsor: Russ Feingold (D-WI)
Iraq Redeployment Act of 2007

Cosponsors: Boxer (D-CA), Leahy (D-VT), Sanders (I-VT)

This bill would prohibit any funds from being spent on deployment of U.S. troops in Iraq 180 days from enactment of the bill. Funds could continue to be used for limited activities in Iraq, including targeted counterterrorism operations and training for Iraqi security services.

S. 433
Sponsor: Barack Obama (D-IL)
Iraq War De-escalation Act of 2007

Cosponsors: Durbin (D-IL), Leahy (D-VT), Sanders (I-VT),

S. 433 caps the number of troops at the levels on January 10, 2007 (the date of Bush’s announcement of the escalation) and enacts a phased withdrawal of troops beginning May 1, 2007 and ending no later than March 31, 2008.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. 960
Sponsor: Joe Sestak (D-PA-7)
Enhancing America’s Security Through Redeployment from Iraq Act

Cosponsors: Brady (D-PA-1), Cohen (D-TN-9), Fattah (D-PA-2), Kennedy (D-RI-1), Langevin (D-RI-2), Loebsack (D-IA-2), Shea-Porter (D-NH-1), Stark (D-CA-13)
This act calls for redeploying troops by December 31, 2007, and only allows funds after that time for limited activities, including counterterrorism operations.

H.R. 930
Sponsor: Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX-18)
Military Success in Iraq And Diplomatic Surge for National and Political Reconciliation in Iraq Act of 2007

Cosponsors: none
H.R. 930 repeals the original congressional authorization for the war in Iraq and requires withdrawal of troops by October 31, 2007 or within 90 days of enactment, whichever comes first.

H.R. 787
Sponsor: Mike Thompson (D-CA-1)
Iraq War De-escalation Act of 2007

Cosponsors: Abercrombie (D-HI-1), Baca (D-CA-43), Becerra (D-CA-31), Brady (D-PA-1), Braley (D-IA-1), Brown (D-FL-3), Capuano (D-MA-8), Carney (D-PA-10), Carson (D-IN-1), Clarke (D-NY-11), Cohen (D-TN-9), Conyers (D-MI-14), Davis (D-IL-7), DeFazio (D-OR-4), Delahunt (D-MA-10), Doggett (D-TX-25), Doyle (D-PA-14), Duncan (R-TN-2), Ellison (D-MN-5), Emanuel (D-IL-5), Eshoo (D-CA-14), Filner (D-CA-51), Gilchrest (R-MD-1), Hare (D-IL-17), Hirono (D-HI-2), Jackson (D-IL-2), Jackson-Lee (D-TX-18), Jefferson (D-LA-2), Johnson (D-GA-4), Jones (D-OH-11), Jones (R-NC-3), Kanjorski (D-PA-11), Kaptur (D-OH-9), Larson (D-CT-1), Lewis (D-GA-5), Lofgren (D-CA-16), Matsui (D-CA-5), McDermott (D-WA-7), McNerney (D-CA-11), Michaud (D-ME-2), Miller (D-CA-7), Moore (D-WI-4), Moran (D-VA-8), Murphy (D-PA-8), Norton (D-DC), Oberstar (D-MN-8), Pascrell (D-NJ-8), Paul (R-TX-14), Payne (D-NJ-10), Ryan (D-OH-17), Sanchez (D-CA-39), Schakowsky (D-IL-9), Sires (D-NJ-13), Solis (D-CA-32), Stark (D-CA-13), Walz (D-MN-1), Welch (D-VT), Wexler (D-FL-19), Wynn (D-MD-4)

This bill is the House version of Obama’s S. 433.

H.R. 746
Sponsor: James McGovern (D-MA-3)
Safe and Orderly Withdrawal from Iraq Act

Cosponsors: Brady (D-PA-1), Brown (D-FL-3), Capuano (D-MA-8), Clay (D-MO-1), Cohen (D-TN-9), Conyers (D-MI-14), Delahunt (D-MA-10), Ellison (D-MN-5), Fattah (D-PA-2), Filner (D-CA-51), Frank (D-MA-4), Grijalva (D-AZ-7), Hall (D-NY-19), Johnson (D-TX-30), Lee (D-CA-9), Lewis (D-GA-5), Norton (D-DC), Olver (D-MA-1), Payne (D-NJ-10), Schakowsky (D-IL-9), Serrano (D-NY-16), Stark (D-CA-13), Waters (D-CA-35), Welch (D-VT), Woolsey (D-CA-6), Wynn (D-MD-4)

The Safe and Orderly Withdrawal Act begins a withdrawal within 30 days of enactment of the bill, to be completed within 180 days. All funds for further military deployments are cut off with enactment of the bill.

H.Con.Res. 46
Sponsor: Barbara Lee (D-CA-9)
“Declaring that it is the policy of the United States not to establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq and not to exercise United States control of the oil resources of Iraq.”

Cosponsors: Allen (D-ME-1), Baldwin (D-WI-2), Berman (D-CA-28), Bishop (D-NY-1), Blumenauer (D-OR-3), Brady (D-PA-1), Capuano (D-MA-8), Carson (D-IN-7), Conyers (D-MI-14), Crowley (D-NY-7), DeFazio (D-OR-4), Farr (D-CA-17), Fattah (D-PA-2), Frank (D-MA-4), Grijalva (D-AZ-7), Gutierrez (D-IL-4), Hare (D-IL-17), Hirono (D-HI-2), Honda (D-CA-15), Hooley (D-OR-5), Jackson-Lee (D-TX-18), Kucinich (D-OH-10), Maloney (D-NY-14), Matsui (D-CA-5), McGovern (D-MA-3), Meehan (D-MA-5), Michaud (D-ME-2), Miller (D-NC-13), Moore (D-WI-4), Nadler (D-NY-8), Price (D-NC-4), Rothman (D-NJ-9), Schakowsky (D-IL-9), Schiff (D-CA-29), Schwartz (D-PA-13), Stark (D-CA-13), Waxman (D-CA-30), Woolsey (D-CA-6)

In an effort to assure the Iraqi people that the U.S. does not intend an enduring presence, H.Con.Res. 46 asserts a policy of not building permanent military bases in Iraq and not exerting control of oil resources.

H.R. 663
Sponsor: Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3)
New Direction for Iraq Act of 2007

Cosponsors: Allen (D-ME-1), Baldwin (D-WI-2), Bishop (D-NY-1), DeFazio (D-OR-4), Farr (D-CA-17), Fattah (D-PA-2), Hall (D-NY-19), Hare (D-IL-17), Johnson (D-TX-30), Maloney (D-NY-14), Stark (D-CA-13)

H.R. 663 prohibits the escalation of the war in Iraq and calls for redeployment within approximately one year. The bill also bars permanent bases, emphasizes reconstruction, and calls for a renewed diplomatic effort in the region.

H.J.Res. 18
Sponsor: John Murtha (D-PA-12)
“To redeploy U.S. forces from Iraq.”

Cosponsors: 102 representatives,

click here for full list.

Rep. Murtha has reintroduced this bill that he initially proposed in 2006. The bill terminates the deployment of U.S. troops in Iraq and calls for withdrawal at the “earliest practicable date.”

H.R. 508
Sponsor: Lynn Woolsey (D-CA-6)
Bring the Troops Home and Iraqi Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2007

Cosponsors: Abercrombie (D-HI-1), Brady (D-PA-1), Brown (D-FL-3), Capuano (D-MA-8), Carson (D-IN-7), Clarke (D-NY-11), Clay (D-MO-1), Cleaver (D-MO-5), Cohen (D-TN-9), Conyers (D-MI-14), Cummings (D-MD-7), Davis (D-IL-7), Ellison (D-MN-5), Farr (D-CA-17), Fattah (D-PA-2), Filner (D-CA-51), Frank (D-MA-4), Grijalva (D-AZ-7), Gutierrez (D-IL-4), Hare (D-IL-17), Hinchey (D-NY-22), Honda (D-CA-15), Jackson (D-IL-2), Jackson-Lee (D-TX-18), Johnson (D-TX-30), Johnson (D-GA-4), Kilpatrick (D-MI-13), Kucinich (D-OH-10), Lee (D-CA-9), Lewis (D-GA-5), Loebsack (D-IA-2), Maloney (D-NY-14), McGovern (D-MA-3), McNerney (D-CA-11), Nadler (D-NY-8), Oberstar (D-MN-8), Olver (D-MA-1), Pastor (D-AZ-4), Payne (D-NJ-10), Rothman (D-NJ-9), Schakowsky (D-IL-9), Serrano (D-NY-16), Solis (D-CA-32), Stark (D-CA-13), Towns (D-NY-10), Velazquez (D-NY-12), Waters (D-CA-35), Watson (D-CA-33), Welch (D-VT)

H.R. 508 is a comprehensive bill designed to address several major concerns in stabilizing Iraq. The bill requires a withdrawal of U.S. troops and military contractors within 6 months of enactment, at which point funding to deploy troops would be terminated. The bill also bars the construction of permanent bases, authorizes funds for reconstruction and guarantees healthcare for U.S. veterans of the war in Iraq.

H.R. 455
Sponsor: Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-8)
Protect the Troops and Bring Them Home Act of 2007

Cosponsors: Capuano (D-MA-8), Fattah (D-PA-2), Filner (D-CA-51), Hall (D-NY-19), Hinchey (D-NY-22), Jackson-Lee (D-TX-18), Lee (D-CA-9), Maloney (D-NY-14), Olver (D-MA-1), Schakowsky (D-IL-9), Serrano (D-NY-16), Stark (D-CA-13), Towns (D-NY-10)

H.R. 455 calls for a withdrawal within 30 days of enactment, to end no later than December 31, 2007. The bill cuts off funds for Department of Defense expenditures in Iraq other than protecting U.S. troops while they are withdrawing, while allowing funds for security and reconstruction.

H.R. 413
Sponsor: Sam Farr (D-CA-17)
“To repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 and to require the withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from Iraq.”

Cosponsors: Blumenauer (D-OR-3), Capuano (D-MA-8), Cohen (D-TN-9), Grijalva (D-AZ-7), Honda (D-CA-15), Kucinich (D-OH-10), Lee (D-CA-9), Serrano (D-NY-16), Woolsey (D-CA-6)

Farr’s bill repeals the authorization for the Iraq war that was granted in 2002 and requires withdrawal of U.S. troops in a “safe and orderly manner.”

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