Out of Iraq in 6 Months Flat - FINAL INSTALLMENT

Four Photo by Maarja Vigorito © 2007 (Click photo for larger image)

ARTIST'S NOTES can be found at the end of this post.

This is the final installment of the actual text of Representative Lynn Woolsey's (D-Petaluma, CA) plan to get our nation out of the Iraq quagmire. It's called bill HR 508 and you need to contact your Representative immediately (this week) and demand that they support this concrete, well-designed plan to end this criminal war. The U.S. House of Representatives just started debating about the Iraq war (five years too late, but at least it's finally happening). We must keep the pressure on, they have to do the job we sent them to Washington DC to do for us!

HR 508 Previous Parts:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

HR 508 Part Four:

TITLE IV--ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE ORIGINS AND CONDUCT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM

Sec. 401. Establishment of Joint Select Committee.

Sec. 402. Duties.

Sec. 403. Membership.

Sec. 404. Powers.

Sec. 405. Staff.

Sec. 406. Funding.

Sec. 407. Termination.

TITLE IV--ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE ORIGINS AND CONDUCT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM

SEC. 401. ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE.

There is hereby established in the Congress the Joint Select Committee to Review the Origins and Conduct of Operation Iraqi Freedom (hereafter in this title referred to as the `Joint Select Committee').

SEC. 402. DUTIES.

(a) In General- The Joint Select Committee shall have authority--

(1) to conduct a comprehensive study and review of the origins and conduct of the United States military intervention in Iraq ordered on March 19, 2003 and its aftermath; and

(2) to make recommendations to the House of Representatives and Senate for such legislation or other action the Joint Select Committee considers necessary in response to its findings under the study and review conducted under paragraph (1) and to submit such recommendations directly to the committees of the House and Senate with jurisdiction over the legislation or other action.

Under 100,000 People My Ass Washington DC Peace March 1/27/07. Photo by Laura Robeson © 2007 (Click photo for larger image)

(b) Reports-

(1) INTERIM- The Joint Select Committee may submit such interim reports to Congress on its activities and findings as it considers appropriate.

(2) FINAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS- Not later than December 31, 2008, the Joint Select Committee shall submit a final report to Congress on its activities and findings, and shall include in the report all of the recommendations described in subsection (a)(2).

(c) No Legislative Jurisdiction- The Joint Select Committee shall not have legislative jurisdiction.

SEC. 403. MEMBERSHIP.

(a) Composition and Appointment-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Joint Select Committee shall be composed of 18 Members of the House of Representatives and Senate, of whom--

(A) 9 shall be Members of the House of Representatives and shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives in consultation with the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and

(B) 9 shall be Members of the Senate and shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate in consultation with the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(2) TREATMENT OF DELEGATE AND RESIDENT COMMISSIONER- For purposes of this subsection, a `Member' of the House of Representatives includes a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress.

(b) Chair and Vice-Chair- At the time of appointment, one of the members of the Joint Select Committee shall be designated jointly by the Speaker and Majority Leader as the chair of the Joint Select Committee and one shall be designated jointly by the Speaker and Majority Leader as the vice-chair of the Joint Select Committee. The chair and vice-chair may not be Members of the same House of Congress.

(c) Vacancies- A vacancy in the membership of the Joint Select Committee shall not affect the power of the remaining members to execute the functions of the Joint Select Committee, and shall be filled in the same manner as in the case of the original appointment.

SEIU Members Marching Photo by Maarja Vigorito © 2007 (Click photo for larger image)

SEC. 404. POWERS.

(a) Hearings and Other Activities- For the purpose of carrying out its duties, during the present Congress the Joint Select Committee may hold such hearings and undertake such other activities as the Joint Select Committee determines to be necessary to carry out its duties, whether the Congress is in session, has recessed, or has adjourned.

(b) Obtaining Information-

(1) AUTHORITY TO USE SUBPOENAS- The Joint Select Committee may require by subpoena the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and documents, as it considers appropriate.

(2) PROCEDURES- Subpoenas may be issued over the signature of the chair of the Joint Select Committee or of any member designated by the chair or by the Joint Select Committee to the extent the chairman or such member is authorized by a majority of the joint committee to issue such subpoenas, and may be served by any person designated by such chairman or member.

(c) Access to Legislative Branch Services- The Joint Select Committee shall have access to the services of the Government Accountability Office, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Congressional Research Service in the same manner and under the same terms and conditions as any standing committee of the House of Representatives or Senate.

SEC. 405. STAFF.

(a) Appointment of Staff- The chair of the Joint Select Committee may appoint and fix the pay of such personnel as the chair considers appropriate to assist the Joint Select Committee in carrying out its duties, except that no individual appointed under this authority may receive pay at a rate greater than the highest annual rate of pay which may be paid to any employee of the House of Representatives whose salary is paid exclusively out of a Members' Representational Allowance.

(b) Detail of Federal Employees- Upon the request of the Joint Select Committee, the head of any Federal agency or of any office in the legislative branch is authorized to detail, without reimbursement, any of the personnel of such agency or office to the Joint Select Committee to assist the Joint Select Committee in carrying out its duties.

Crowd Washington DC Peace March 1/27/07.
Photo by Laura Robeson © 2007 (Click photo for larger image)

SEC. 406. FUNDING.

(a) Vouchers- Payments for expenses of the Joint Select Committee shall be made using vouchers authorized by the Joint Select Committee, signed by the chair of the Joint Select Committee, and approved in a manner directed by the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives.

(b) Source of Funds- There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for the operation of the Joint Select Committee, of which--

(1) 50 percent shall be derived from the applicable accounts of the House of Representatives; and

(2) 50 percent shall be derived from the contingent fund of the Senate.

SEC. 407. TERMINATION.

(a) Termination Date- The Joint Select Committee shall terminate not later than 15 days after submitting the final report and recommendations required under section 402(b)(2).

(b) Transfer of Records- Upon termination of the Joint Select Committee, the records of the Joint Select Committee shall be transferred jointly to, and held jointly by, the Clerk of the House of Representatives and Secretary of the Senate.

ARTIST'S NOTES:

Laura Robeson

I believe dissent is the highest form of patriotism. I believe 9/11 was an inside job and the War on Terror is a complete lie. I refuse to believe we are here just to fight each other, work 9-5, gather material possessions, and look pretty. I refuse to believe millions of animals have to be killed every day or humans will starve. I refuse to silently watch corporations and murderous regimes brainwash us and take over the world. I refuse to let our children become cannon fodder for endless oil wars, or any war, for that matter. I refuse to allow billions to be spent on the military and only pennies on education and health. I refuse to let ignorance allow the Have-Nots settle for the scrap lives the Haves throw down at them. I believe we already have everything we could ever need, our resources just need to be reallocated, and when that is done every one can be cared for and this world will truly be prosperous. I believe Love is the ultimate act of Resistance and cannot be restrained or legislated.
If that is too radical (is there such a thing?!) and scary to some people, so be it. It’s too late to be polite, patient, and traditional. We’re running out of time!!!

Photographer Maarja Vigorito lives in Washington, D.C., where she likes to do artistic as well as documentary photography. More of her work, including photos from the Sept. 25, 2005 march on DC as well as the Jan. 27, 2007 march. "The Jan. 2007 march had a more serious vibe than the 2005 march. In 2005, there was more of a festive atmosphere, and a lot of people were having fun with their clever signs. In 2007, there was less clever signage and more we mean business attitude."

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