The Real Murtha Resolution
You'll recall the big brouhaha over the weekend regarding the Murtha bill, and the vote that took place Friday night.
As all of you realize, however, the vote was not on the Murtha bill.
Here is Murtha's original bill, H.J. Res. 73:
To redeploy U.S. forces from Iraq. (Introduced in House)
HJ 73 IH
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. J. RES. 73
To redeploy U.S. forces from Iraq.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 17, 2005
Mr. MURTHA introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations, 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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JOINT RESOLUTION
To redeploy U.S. forces from Iraq.
Whereas Congress and the American people have not been shown clear, measurable progress toward establishment of stable and improving security in Iraq or of a stable and improving economy in Iraq, both of which are essential to `promote the emergence of a democratic government';
Whereas additional stabilization in Iraq by U.S. military forces cannot be achieved without the deployment of hundreds of thousands of additional U.S. troops, which in turn cannot be achieved without a military draft;
Whereas more than $277 billion has been appropriated by the United States Congress to prosecute U.S. military action in Iraq and Afghanistan;
Whereas, as of the drafting of this resolution, 2,079 U.S. troops have been killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom;
Whereas U.S. forces have become the target of the insurgency;
Whereas, according to recent polls, over 80 percent of the Iraqi people want the U.S. forces out of Iraq;
Whereas polls also indicate that 45 percent of the Iraqi people feel that the attacks on U.S. forces are justified; and
Whereas, due to the foregoing, Congress finds it evident that continuing U.S. military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the people of Iraq, or the Persian Gulf Region, which were cited in Public Law 107-243 as justification for undertaking such action: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That:
SECTION 1. The deployment of United States forces in Iraq, by direction of Congress, is hereby terminated and the forces involved are to be redeployed at the earliest practicable date.
SEC. 2. A quick-reaction U.S. force and an over-the-horizon presence of U.S. Marines shall be deployed in the region.
SEC. 3. The United States of America shall pursue security and stability in Iraq through diplomacy.
Friday night's vote was actually on Duncan Hunter's H. Res. 571. As of this morning, the text of this resolution (which has already been defeated) is not yet available.
So what happens to Murtha's resolution? As of November 17, it was "[r]eferred to the Committee on International Relations, 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." Whether the bill will die in those committees, or whether someone will try to resurrect it, has yet to be determined.
Of course, any consideration of this may be...um..."de layed," as they might say:
Republican lawmakers say that ties between Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) and his brother’s lobbying firm, KSA Consulting, may warrant investigation by the House ethics committee.
It's great when our legislators work together, isn't it? Oh yeah...they do work together on redistricting plans.
Comments