December 8, 2006
The House cleared bill S.4046 by voice vote on Friday to extend the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.
November 14, 2006
The senate, by unanimous voice vote, agreed to extend the term of the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction beyond the original end date of October 1, 2007. The term will now extend until 10 months after 80% of the Iraq reconstruction funds are spent. Senator Collins and Senator Feingold offered the amendment to the military construction and veterans affairs (H.R. 5385) bill.
October 17, 2006
President Bush signed the military authorization bill (HR 5122) on October 17, 2006, following his earlier signing of the military appropriations bill (HR 5631) on September 29, 2006. Both pieces of legislation contain language barring the United States from using funds provided for in the bills for establishing permanent bases in Iraq or controlling that country's oil.
September 29, 2006
The Senate approved the military appropriations bill (HR 5631) conference report on September 29, 2006 by a 100-0 vote (see September 25 entry). The bill is now cleared for the president’s signature.
On the same day the House-Senate conference committee completed work on the military authorization bill (HR 5122). This bill authorizes $70 billion in additional funding for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Like HR 5631, the authorization bill also includes a clause preventing for the establishment of permanent bases in Iraq.
September 25, 2006
The House and Senate negotiators filed a conference report for the military appropriations bill (HR 5631) on September 25, 2006. The report contains the no permanent bases language sponsored by Rep. Murtha (see June 13 entry). Section 9012 of the bill reads:
None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be obligated or expended by the United States government for a purpose as follows:
(1) to establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United Stats Armed Forces in Iraq.
(2) To exercise United States control over any oil resource of Iraq.
The Senate is expected to vote on the final bill later this week.
September 7, 2006
Senate approves military appropriation bill for fiscal year 2007 that includes Biden amendment (see August 3 entry) that bars spending to establish permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq.
August 3, 2006
The Senate approved by voice vote an amendment by Sen. Joseph Biden (DE) to the military appropriation bill for fiscal year 2007 that bars spending to establish permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq. Specifically, the amendment states:
None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be obligated or expended by the United States government for a purpose as follows:
(1) To establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq.
(2) To exercise United States control over any oil resource of Iraq.
The Senate did not vote on the military appropriations bill before it adjourned for its August recess. They will vote on the bill when they return in September.
Read FCNL's letter to the Senate on Sen. Biden's amendment.
June 29, 2006
Full House approves FY2007 State, Science, Justice and Commerce Appropriations Bill (H.R. 5672) which includes language on no permanent bases that Rep. David Obey (WI) inserted is in the bill:
"SEC. 627. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used by the Government of the United States to enter into a basing rights agreement between the United States and Iraq."
June 22, 2006
Senate bars spending to establish permanent bases...again. Senators John Warner (VA) and Carl Levin (MI) agree to an amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill (S. 2766) offered by Senator Joseph Biden (DE) that states: "No funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act maybe obligated or expended for a purpose as follows: (1) to establish a permanent United States military installation or base in Iraq; (2) To exercise United States control over the oil resources of Iraq."
June 22, 2006
Thirty-nine U.S. senators voted Thursday for a change of course in Iraq and urged the president to begin withdrawing U.S. troops this year. But the Senate ultimately defeats two separate amendments to the Defense Authorization Bill that would have challenged the direction of U.S. policy.
June 21, 2006
Senator Joseph Biden (DE) announces amendment No. 4334 to the Defense Authorization Bill (S. 2766) that declares "No funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act maybe obligated or expended for a purpose as follows: (1) to establish a permanent United States military installation or base in Iraq; (2) To exercise United States control over the oil resources of Iraq."
June 20, 2006
House votes 376 to 50 to reject an amendment offered by Rep. Steve King (IA) that would have removed the ban on permanent bases inserted in to the Defense Appropriations Bill (H.R. 5631) by Rep. Murtha on June 13.
June 20, 2006
House Appropriations Committee approves amendment to State, Science, Justice and Commerce Appropriations Bill that prohibits permanent U.S. basing agreement between the United States and Iraq. The amendment was sponsored by Rep. David Obey (WI).
June 17, 2006
House endorses the current course in Iraq, while the Senate rejected calls for a timetable for withdrawal.
June 13, 2006
House appropriations committee approves amendment (section 9012) to Defense Appropriations Bill (H.R. 5631) which states "None of the funds made available in this Act may be used by the Government of the United States to enter into a basing rights agreement between the United States and Iraq." The amendment was sponsored by Rep. John Murtha (PA).
June 9, 2006
Meeting behind closed doors in early June, a House-Senate conference committee has deleted language barring permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq from supplemental funding legislation.
May 3, 2006
The full Senate approved an amendment offered by Sen. Joseph Biden (DE) that is intended to prevent the U.S. from establishing permanent military bases in Iraq and states that the U.S. should not control Iraqi oil resources.
March 17, 2006
The House votes to prevent the U.S. from establishing permanent bases in Iraq.
