WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- A flurry of resolutions and bills are hitting the floors of U.S. Congress to let Capitol Hill put its stamp on Iraq policy.
Republicans in the House of Representatives plan to offer a bill prohibiting cutting funding to troops that are deployed. Restricting funding is Congress' main checking power over the White House.
On the Senate side, Democrats have introduced separate resolutions, one calling for a cap on the number of troops but no restriction on funding and another that restricts the number of troops as well as restricts funding.
Key Democratic chairmen and one Senate Republican introduced a bipartisan resolution that opposes -- but does not restrict -- the addition of 21,500 troops to Iraq, calls on the Iraqi government to take responsibility for the security situation, and calls on the White House to pursue a regional diplomatic strategy, likely including Iran and Syria.
"This resolution says what we, Democrats and Republicans, are against: deepening America's military involvement in Iraq by escalating our troop presence. It also says what we are for: a strategy that can produce a political solution to stop the violence," said Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.).
Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) and Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) co-sponsored the resolution with Biden.
President George W. Bush in an interview with "60 Minutes" that aired Sunday gave no indication he was open to adjusting his new plan to incorporate congressional concerns.
"I fully understand they could try to stop me from doing it. But I made my decision, and we're going forward," Bush said.
