WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bill Delahunt (D-MA) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) held a press conference today on Capitol Hill to announce the introduction of the “Protect Our Troops and Our Constitution Act,” legislation that will cut off funds for a U.S.-Iraqi security agreement that has not been submitted to and approved by Congress.

“Under the Constitution, only Congress can send troops into combat, but the Administration is trying to slip the ‘authority to fight’ into a standard, executive branch “Status of Forces Agreement” for Iraq,” said Delahunt. “Our legislation prohibits this evasion of the Congress’s war powers, and proposes that the UN mandate be extended for a brief period so that our troops can be legally protected while the new Administration and Congress craft our long term policy in Iraq.”

“Our nation’s future presence in Iraq is one of the most important issues facing our country and the Congress must play a role. President Bush must not be allowed to unilaterally make security commitments to Iraq that will tie the hands of the next president,” stated DeLauro. "That is why, we have introduced legislation that enforces the Constitutional requirement that the Bush Administration must either seek Congressional approval before finalizing any future and lasting agreement with Iraq or extend the UN Mandate once again so that a new Administration and Congress can chart our future course in Iraq. Accountability is fundamental. What we do today has serious consequences tomorrow. And we have a responsibility to get it right.”

As Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, Delahunt has held five hearings on the security agreement over a four-month period since it was first proposed in the November 26, 2007, Declaration of Principles that was signed by President Bush and Prime Minister al-Maliki. To read about his most recent hearing, please click here.

DeLauro, who has also been highly critical of the proposed long-term agreement, wrote last month to the President with Chairman Delahunt and over 50 of their colleagues urging the Administration to enter into consultations with and seek the approval of Congress on any agreement. To read the letter, please click here.

Defense Secretary Gates has suggested that the agreement would be similar to those the U.S. made with Japan and South Korea , which came in the form of a treaty requiring, under the Constitution, the advice and consent of two thirds of the Senate. However, the Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan , Lieutenant General Douglas E. Lute has stated that he does not anticipate “formal negotiations or formal inputs from the Congress.”

The legislation introduced by Delahunt and DeLauro specifically would:

• enforce the Constitutional requirement that any agreement committing or authorizing U.S. forces to engage in combat on behalf of the Government of Iraq be approved by Congress.  
• urge the Administration to seek the extension of the five-year old UN Mandate for Multinational Forces in Iraq, which is set to expire in December.  This action will ensure that U.S. forces have continued protection from Iraqi and international legal claims as the next President and Congress choose a new direction for U.S. policy in Iraq. 

To read a pdf file which includes a copy of the bill and a summary, please click here.

 

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