HR0193 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0193 LRB095 11532 JAM 32937 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The United States of America was the victim of a massive and unprovoked terrorist attack on September 11, 2001; and

WHEREAS, The terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 was orchestrated by Osama bin Laden and the al Qaeda terrorist network; and

WHEREAS, Osama bin Laden and the al Qaeda terrorist network are also responsible for horrible acts of treachery and murder against American citizens in Yemen, Tanzania, and Kenya; and

WHEREAS, The oppressive Taliban regime of Afghanistan harbored Osama bin Laden and the leadership of the al Qaeda terrorist network, and the Taliban regime of Afghanistan refused to disavow and turn over to the United States government Osama bin Laden and the leadership of the al Qaeda terrorist network responsible for the September 11, 2001 attack; and

WHEREAS, With the strong support of the people of the United States, including the people of Illinois, the United States Armed Forces pursued Osama bin Laden and the al Qaeda terrorist network in Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban regime; and

WHEREAS, Through the dedicated efforts of the United States Armed Forces and as a direct result of the fall of the Taliban regime, a democratically elected government emerged in Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, The President of the United States and members of the United States government, utilizing faulty and unreliable intelligence, redirected United States military resources from pursuing Osama bin Laden and the leaders of the al Qaeda terrorist network in Afghanistan to an invasion of the country of Iraq, though the government of Iraq had no responsibility for the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and harbored neither Osama bin Laden nor the leadership of the al Qaeda terrorist network; and

WHEREAS, The United States Armed Forces are now engaged in a protracted occupation of the country of Iraq that began in 2003; and

WHEREAS, More than 137,000 American military personnel are serving in Iraq, and thousands more have served since March of 2003, with the bravery and professionalism consistent with the finest traditions of the United States Armed Forces; and

WHEREAS, Thousands of American military personnel serving in Iraq, including members of the Illinois National Guard, are past and present residents of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, All United States military personnel deserve the support of the American people, and the people of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The war and occupation of Iraq have resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 United States military personnel, and the wounding and disabling of more than 22,000 United States military personnel, among them past and present residents of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, On January 10, 2007, President George W. Bush announced the escalation of United States military involvement in Iraq by proposing the deployment of more than 21,000 additional United States military personnel, who are likely to include many past and present residents of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The proposed escalation could further extend the tours of duty of members of the Illinois National Guard; and

WHEREAS, The cost of deployment to Iraq of members of the Illinois National Guard has been significant, as reckoned in lost lives; combat injuries; disruption of family life; financial hardship for individuals, families, and businesses; interruption of careers; and damage to the fabric of civic life in our communities; and

WHEREAS, An escalated, open-ended commitment of United States military forces in Iraq is unsustainable and serves as a deterrent to the government of Iraq exercising political and military leadership and providing Iraqi personnel and resources required to end sectarian violence; and

WHEREAS, The continued redirection of United States military resources away from the pursuit of Osama bin Laden and the leadership of the al Qaeda terrorist network in Afghanistan has led to a resurgence of Taliban forces, which could lead to the destabilization of the democratically elected government of Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, United States military experts, including past and present members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have stated their opposition to an escalation of United States military personnel in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, More than $357 billion has been appropriated by the United States Congress to fund military and reconstruction efforts in Iraq to date, money that could be utilized for education, health care, housing, nutrition, and other domestic social services, along with international humanitarian aid; and

WHEREAS, Prior appropriations made by the United States Congress have prioritized operations in Iraq, resulting in cuts to critical financial assistance to states, including the State of Illinois, and have increased the gross debt and compounded interest of the United States, which leads to additional cuts in funding for critical needs in the states; and

WHEREAS, The United States Congress has broad authority and a long tradition of limiting military escalation by placing budgetary limitations on such escalation, utilizing power granted by the Constitution of the United States of America; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, That the State of Illinois, on behalf of its citizens, salutes and supports the dedicated service of the members of the United States Armed Forces, including members of the Illinois National Guard; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the American people, including the people of Illinois, with unbounded determination, support the efforts of the United States Armed Forces to pursue and defeat the terrorist forces responsible for the September 11, 2001 attack and make certain this form of treachery will never endanger the American people again; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the State of Illinois, on behalf of its citizens, urges that the United States government should not put more members of the United States Armed Forces in harm's way by escalating our involvement in Iraq through an increase in troop levels; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the President of the United States should obtain explicit approval from the United States Congress before the deployment of additional United States military personnel to Iraq; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the United States Congress should pass legislation prohibiting the President of the United States from spending additional taxpayer money to fund an escalation of troop levels in Iraq unless the President seeks and receives congressional approval; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution shall be sent to President of the United States George W. Bush, each member of the Illinois congressional delegation, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, and the Minority Leader of the United States Senate.