Iraq debate shifts to the House

Democrats are aiming for a resolution that is simpler than the Senate's.

from the February 12, 2007 edition

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Congress wants to vote on the war? It already has.

The US Senate and House of Representatives have voted dozens of times on resolutions, funding measures, and amendments pertaining to the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Below is an abbreviated record of their votes.

107th Congress: Republicans control the House (221-214*); Democrats control the Senate (51-49*)

2002

October: A joint resolution is approved to authorize use of armed forces against Iraq (House 296-133, Senate 77-23).

• House rejects Barbara Lee amendment urging peaceful means to resolve the issue (72-355).

• House rejects amendment to require the president to seek congressional authority before using military force against Iraq without a UN resolution (155-270).

• • •

108th Congress: Republicans control House (229-204*) and Senate (51-48*)

2003

April: Congress approves $78.5 billion in emergency war funding (House by voice vote, Senate by unanimous consent).

• Senate rejects amendment calling on the president to raise revenues to offset Iraq war costs (18-79).

October: Senate rejects amendment to offset Iraqi reconstruction costs by eliminating income-tax cuts enacted in 2001 for top 1 percent of earners (42-57).

• Senate adopts Lindsey Graham amendment to express the sense of Congress that Saddam Hussein's removal has enhanced the security of Israel and other US allies (95-2).

• Senate rejects amendment to release $10.2 billion in reconstruction funding only if the UN authorizes a multinational military force under US leadership in Iraq (42-57).

• Senate agrees to amendment to reimburse service members who paid for meals while hospitalized as a result of injuries or illness while in combat or training since 9/11 (99-0).

• Senate rejects amendment prohibiting use of defense funding for the involuntary deployment to Iraq of members of the National Guard and Reserves who have been involuntarily deployed for six months or more during the past six years (15-82).

October/November: Congress approves $87.5 billion in emergency war funding (House 298-121, Senate by voice vote).

2004

May: House expresses deep appreciation to the members of military who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom (365-50).

June: Senate rejects amendment to suspend a portion of the reduction in the highest income-tax rate for individual taxpayers to pay for Iraq war (44-53).

• House expresses gratitude to US armed forces for valiant service and offers continued support (352-57).

• • •

109th Congress: Republicans control House (232-202*) and Senate (55-45*)

2005

April: Senate adopts Robert Byrd amendment that war funding be part of the president's annual budget after fiscal year 2006 (61-31).

May: Congress passes $82 billion in emergency war funding (House 368-58, Senate 100-0).

• House rejects Woolsey amendment that the president should submit to Congress a plan for the withdrawal of US military forces from Iraq (128-300).

July: Senate adopts Warner amendment that calendar year 2006 should be a period of "significant transition" to full Iraqi sovereignty, thus creating conditions for phased redeployment of US forces from Iraq (79-19).

• House rejects resolution to terminate immediately deployment of US forces in Iraq (3-403).

December: House expresses commitment to achieving victory in Iraq (279-109).

2006

June: Congress passes $94.5 billion in emergency war funding (House 351-67, Senate 98-1).

• House agrees to resolution declaring that it is not in US national security interests to set arbitrary date for withdrawal or redeployment of US troops in Iraq (256-153).

• Senate rejects Levin amendment to begin phased redeployment of US forces from Iraq in 2006 (39-60).

• Senate rejects amendment to require the redeployment of US armed forces from Iraq by July 1, 2007 (13-86).

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110th Congress: Democrats control House (233-202) and Senate (51*-49)

2007

January: House votes that it shall be US policy to "vigorously support the government of Afghanistan" and to deploy troops there "as long as the Afghan government supports such US involvement" (299-128).

*Democratic totals include independents who caucus with them.

Sources: Congressional Research Service, US House of Representatives, and US Senate

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Republicans: Lindsey Graham and John Warner. AP PHOTOS