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Week ending March 12, 2010

H.CON.RES.248 Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from Afghanistan

The resolution draws from a section of the 1973 War Powers Resolution requiring the President to remove US troops from Afghanistan within 30 days or by December 31, 2010 if the President determines that it is not safe to withdraw the troops sooner. The President can withdraw the troops sooner than December 31, 2010 if he determines the troops can be safely removed.

The resolution follows the vote in Congress in 2001 to authorize the use of military force shortly after the 911 terrorist attacks.

The Section (5c) of the War Powers Resolution requires the President to remove the forces at any time if Congress so directs by concurrent resolution. In recent years such a resolution has never been effective and Presidents challenge the constitutionality of them. The resolution, then, is moreso symbolic than substantive and may be designed to open debate on US involvement in Afghanistan. Excerpts from a Congressional Research Service Report on the War Powers Resolution can be read here. The War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148 can be read here.

Concurrent resolutions must be agreed to by the House and Senate to become effective.

Resolution below…

Sponsor:  Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH-10^th)

Vote: On agreeing to the rule resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 195 (Roll no. 95). on agreeing to the resolution, HCR 248, the resolution failed 65 to 356 RC 98.

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost

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MORE INFORMATION

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from Afghanistan.

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. REMOVAL OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM AFGHANISTAN.

Pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(c)), Congress directs the President to remove the United States Armed Forces from Afghanistan--

(1) by no later than the end of the period of 30 days beginning on the day on which this concurrent resolution is adopted; or

(2) if the President determines that it is not safe to remove the United States Armed Forces before the end of that period, by no later than December 31, 2010, or such earlier date as the President determines that the Armed Forces can safely be removed.

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