Following on her strong statement against permanent bases in Iraq, Hillary introduced legislation today that would require Congressional approval for all security agreements with Iraq. Hillary introduced the legislation expressing "grave concerns" with President Bush’s recently signed Declaration of Principles for a Long-term Relationship of Cooperation and Friendship with Iraq. Her legislation would deny funding for any such security agreements.
The legislation requires:
• No funds may be authorized or appropriated to carry out any bilateral agreement between the United States and Iraq involving "commitments or risks affecting the nation as a whole," including a status of forces agreement (SOFA), that is not a treaty approved by two-thirds of the Senate under Article II of the Constitution or authorized by legislation passed by both Houses of Congress.
• The State Department Legal Advisor must provide to the Congress a memorandum evaluating the President’s decision to deny Congress its constitutionally protected role by concluding an agreement on the future of the U.S.-Iraqi security relationship as an executive agreement without the assent of the Congress.
• The memorandum must include an analysis of the Constitutional powers relied on by the President in reaching the conclusion that such an agreement does not require approval by the Congress.
• It is the sense of Congress that any bilateral agreement between the United States and Iraq involving "commitments or risks affecting the nation as a whole", including a status of forces agreement (SOFA), that is not a treaty approved by two-thirds of the Senate under Article II of the Constitution or authorized by legislation, does not have the force of law. |
Hillary also signed a letter with a number of other Senator's "warning the President against rushing the United States into long-term security commitments to the Iraqi government and urging him to seek Congressional consent." The letter was also signed by Bob Casey (D-PA), Robert Byrd (D-WV), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Carl Levin (D-MI), and Jim Webb (D-VA).