FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    Contact: Adriana Surfas
Tuesday, January 15, 2008                         (202) 225-3661  

DeLauro Legislation Ensures

Congressional Voice in U.S. – Iraq Agreements

Washington , D.C.  – To ensure that the Congress plays a role in any future and lasting agreements with Iraq , Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro ( Conn. -3) will introduce today The Iraq Strategic Agreement Review Act of 2008. This legislation would require the Bush Administration to consult with Congress before moving forward with any agreement that could lead to long term security arrangements and other major economic and political commitments, and makes clear that any such agreement must come in the form of a treaty.

“Our nation’s future presence in Iraq is one of the most important issues facing our country in the long term and, as is clear in our Constitution, the Bush Administration must seek Congressional approval before finalizing any such plan,” said DeLauro. “Yet, this Administration has made it very clear that when it comes to U.S. policy in Iraq , unless Congress is very specific, they will ignore the will of the American people and attempt to circumvent the will of Congress. This legislation ensures that the Congress will play a role in any future and lasting agreements with Iraq .”

At the end of last year, President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki signed a “Declaration of Principles” outlining the parameters for negotiation of an “enduring” U.S.-Iraqi relationship in the security, economic, political, diplomatic and cultural spheres.  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, when discussing what may perhaps be an even greater proposed commitment to Iraq, Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan Lieutenant General Douglas E. Lute stated that he does not “anticipate now that these negotiations [under the Declaration of Principles] will lead to the status of a formal treaty which would then bring us to formal negotiations or formal inputs from the Congress.” 

Continued DeLauro, “We simply cannot allow the Administration to finalize an agreement that could lead to permanent bases in Iraq and other major economic and political commitments without Congressional consultations and approval.”

The Iraq Strategic Agreement Review Act of 2008 would:

1)   Require the Administration to consult with Congress on any long-term security, economic and political agreement with Iraq .

2)   Express the sense of Congress that any such agreement that does not come in the form of a treaty approved by two thirds of the Senate will not have the force of law. 

3)   Make clear that no funds will be made available to implement the agreement unless it comes in the form of a treaty.  

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www.house.gov/delauro