Washington , D.C. – With the growing debate over the United States’ future relationship with Iraq and the importance of Congress playing a role in forging that relationship, Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro ( Conn. -3) participated in a hearing on “The Proposed U.S. Security Commitment to Iraq: What Will Be In It and Should It Be a Treaty?” held jointly by two Subcommittees on the Foreign Affairs Committee – the International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight Subcommittee and the Middle East and South Asia Subcommittee.

DeLauro has taken the lead on ensuring that Congress plays a role in any future and lasting agreements with Iraq, introducing The Iraq Strategic Agreement Review Act of 2008 (click here for more information on the bill). This legislation would require the Bush Administration to consult with Congress before moving forward with any agreement that could lead to long term security arrangements and other major economic and political commitments, and makes clear that any such agreement must come in the form of a treaty.

Below is the text of her statement – as prepared for delivery.

“I want to thank Mr. Delahunt and Mr. Ackerman for holding this important hearing, and particularly Mr. Delahunt for inviting me to participate. Our future relationship with Iraq is undoubtedly one of the most critical issues facing our country today.”

“With approximately 170,000 troops fighting in Iraq and the recent decrease in violence, much of the discussion concerning Iraq has turned to whether the troop ‘surge’ is working. I welcome the reduction in violence, and I applaud General Petraeus and our troops, they make us proud. But I also have long-questioned our long-term strategy in Iraq . What is it? And, how long do we plan on waiting for substantive Iraqi reconciliation?

“In June, Defense Secretary Gates said we would have a ‘long and enduring presence in Iraq ’ and compared our relationship to the ones we have with Korea and Japan -- two nations with which we have treaties.

“In November, the Administration finally revealed its strategy when President Bush and Prime Minister al-Maliki agreed to a “Declaration of Principles” for a long-term U.S.-Iraq relationship to be finalized by July 31st.

“I am concerned about the security assurances our nation plans on providing Iraq according to this Declaration. The Declaration appears in many ways to adopt the Maliki government’s definition of both external and internal threats. And that concerns me. What are these undefined threats? Would we be obliged to preemptively strike Sunni fighters beyond Iraq ’s borders; or even strike homegrown armed factions Maliki’s own government deems to be a threat.

“After the Principals were signed, Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan , Lieutenant General Douglas Lute, said that he does not anticipate [quote] ‘the status of a formal treaty which would then bring us to formal negotiations or formal inputs from the Congress.’

“Because the Administration’s apparently believes Congress should not be involved in the negotiation of this agreement, I recently introduced the Iraq Strategic Agreement Review Act. My bill makes clear that the Administration must consult with Congress, and expresses the sense that any long-term security, economic and political agreement with Iraq must come in the form of a treaty following approval from the Senate.

“We have been in Iraq for nearly five years. I understand that mapping out a future relationship with that country is vital to our national interest in the region. A clear majority of Americans still believe we should bring our troops home as soon as possible and this Congress has been elected in large part out of dissatisfaction with this war. Congress has a central role to play in formulating any long-term relationship with Iraq . This president simply should not be permitted to unilaterally tie the hands of his successor.

“I look forward to hearing our witnesses today and getting their expert opinions on this type of agreement. I thank Mr. Delahunt for inviting me to this hearing and thank the witnesses in advance for sharing their views.”