Congressional Record: September 9, 2003 (Senate)
Page S11247-S11254
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Dodd, Mr.
Lieberman, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Bingaman, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr.
Feingold, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Leahy, and Mr. Durbin):
S. 1594. A bill to require a report on reconstruction efforts in
Iraq; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today with Senators Daschle,
Dodd, Lieberman, Bingaman, Johnson, Feingold and Lincoln to introduce
legislation to require the President to report to Congress on his
vision for a democratic, economically viable, and politically stable
Iraq, his plan for achieving those goals, and an estimate on how much
this is going to cost.
After months of dodging questions, giving half-answers, and ignoring
Congressional requests, the time has come for this Administration to
level with the American people and Congress and spell-out its plan for
rebuilding a country torn apart by years of dictatorial rule, ethnic
strife, war, and terror.
Our legislation requires the President within 60 days of the
enactment of this act to report to Congress on: the current economic,
political, and military situation in Iraq including the number, type
and location of attacks on U.S. and Coalition military and civilian
personnel in the previous 60 days; a discussion of the measures taken
to protect U.S. troops serving in Iraq; a detailed plan for the
establishment of civil, economic and political security in Iraq,
including the restoration of basic services such as water and
electricity and the construction of schools, roads, and medical clinics
in Iraq; the current and projected monetary costs incurred by the
United States, by Iraq, and by the international community; actions
taken
[[Page S11248]]
and to be taken by the Administration to secure increased international
participation in peacekeeping forces and in the economic and political
reconstruction of Iraq; a detailed time-frame and specific steps to be
taken for the restoration of self-government to the Iraqi people; cost
estimates for achieving those goals; and U.S. and international
military personnel requirements for achieving those goals.
I am pleased that, as Secretary of State Colin Powell announced last
week, the Administration has finally decided to seek an additional
United Nations Security Council Resolution authorizing increased U.N.
participation in multinational peacekeeping forces and the political
and economic reconstruction of Iraq.
Nevertheless, President Bush waited far too long to seek additional
help and, as a result, we will face an ever greater challenge in
rebuilding Iraq in the months and years ahead. And this past Sunday,
President Bush announced his intention to seek an additional $87
billion to fund reconstruction efforts and military and intelligence
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What we need now is a plan on how to rebuild Iraq, an estimate on how
much it is going to cost, what personnel, both military and civilian,
U.S. and international, will be needed, and what the end game will look
like.
Our troops, along with our British and Australian allies, performed
brilliantly in executing Operation Iraqi Freedom. Their unmatched
skill, bravery, and professionalism made us all proud. They overthrew a
tyrannical regime in three weeks and, for the first time in over thirty
years, brought hope to millions of Iraqis. We owe them a tremendous
debt of gratitude.
But I believe United States troops assumed too great a burden in
terms of manpower and exposure to risk, and will be forced to remain in
Iraq longer than expected and at a higher financial cost.
Let us look at the facts.
Sixty-seven Americans have died in hostile action since the President
declared an end to major combat operations on May 1, 2003. In total,
286 U.S. troops have died in Iraq, 146 since May 1.
One hundred and thirty-nine thousand U.S. troops are currently
serving in Iraq, comprising 85 percent of coalition forces.
Four car bombings in the past month have killed 121 people, including
the UN's top envoy to Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
Earlier this year, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stated that
the United States is spending approximately $4 billion a month in Iraq
and, given the President's statement Sunday, there is no indication
that this figure will go down anytime in the near future.
These are enormous commitments, and yet, we do not have a clear
indication from the Administration about its intentions in Iraq. And
that is why I am introducing this legislation.
We have assumed an enormous responsibility in Iraq and we must stay
the course. But let us hear from the Administration on how it intends
to stay that course and where that course will lead us. I urge my
colleagues to support this legislation.
I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the
Record.
There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the
Record, as follows:
S. 1594
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Although President George W. Bush declared an end to
major combat operations in Iraq on May 1, 2003, as of early
September 2003, conditions in parts of Iraq continue to be
unstable, and President Bush has not yet provided Congress
with a detailed plan that outlines the strategic objectives
of Operation Iraqi Freedom, explains how and when the
President plans to accomplish these objectives, and estimates
the costs to be borne by United State taxpayers and the
international community.
(2) On September 7, 2003, President Bush announced his
intention to seek an additional $87,000,000,000 to fund
reconstruction efforts and military and intelligence
operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.
SEC. 2. REPORT.
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the President shall submit to Congress a report
setting forth--
(1) a description of the economic, political, and military
situation in Iraq, including the number, type, and location
of attacks on United States and other Coalition military and
civilian personnel in the preceding 60 days;
(2) a discussion of the measures taken to protect United
States troops serving in Iraq;
(3) a detailed plan for achieving the goal of establishing
civil, economic, and political security in Iraq, including
the restoration of basic services such as water and
electricity and the construction of schools, roads, and
medical clinics;
(4) the monetary costs currently incurred and projected to
be incurred by the United States, the United Nations, Iraq,
and the international community;
(5) the actions taken and to be taken by the President to
secure increased international participation in peacekeeping
efforts and in the economic and political reconstruction of
Iraq;
(6) a detailed schedule and specific steps for achieving
the goal of restoring self-government to the Iraqi people;
and
(7) United States and international military and civilian
personnel requirements.
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