Maxine Waters: “Today Representative Woolsey, Representative Lee and I introduced a bill that would conclude our involvement in Iraq and…”

“Today Representative Woolsey, Representative Lee and I introduced a bill that would conclude our involvement in Iraq and bring our troops home. The bill, H.R. 508, is entitled, Bring Our Troops Home and Sovereignty of Iraq Restoration Act of 2007. The bill has 16 original cosponsors. Representative Woolsey was on the floor a moment ago, and she shared with you some of the provisions of that bill. I will reiterate, I will repeat, if enacted, the bill would repeal the use-of-force authorization passed by Congress in 2002 and requires a complete withdrawal of U.S. troops and contractors hired by the U.S. Government within 6 months of the enactment of this bill. The bill authorizes the President to support an international stabilization force in Iraq, if the Iraq government requests such a force, but U.S. troops would not be permitted to participate in the international force. It would turn security activities and military operations in Iraq over to the elected Iraqi government within 6 months of the date of enactment. It would prohibit the U.S. from establishing permanent bases in Iraq. It would cap the number of officers and employees of the United States assigned to the U.S. embassy in Iraq at 500. It would accelerate the training and equipping of Iraq military and security forces, and pursue security and stability in Iraq through diplomacy.”