Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

Iran Policy in the FY2008 Defense Authorization Bill (H.R. 1585) Conference Agreement

by Carah Ong [contact information]

Published on Iran Nuclear Watch blog on December 11, 2007

On December 6, 2007, House and Senate conferees agreed on the conference report for the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Authorization bill (H.R. 1585). The bill includes $506.9 billion for the Department of Defense and the nuclear weapons activities of the Department of Energy. The bill also authorizes $189.4 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. This funding is NOT counted as part of the $506.9 billion.

The bill is likely to pass before Congress is scheduled to adjourn for the year on December 21. Below is an outline of policy regarding Iran contained in the House-Senate conference report.

For full coverage of the FY2008 Defense Authorization conference report, see the Center's December 12 analysis.

For additional information on the Fiscal Year 2008 defense budget, visit the National Security Spending section of the Center's website.

IRAN POLICY

House Recedes to Kyl-Lieberman Language on Revolutionary Guards
The House receded to the Senate provision (inserted into the Defense Authorization bill following the passage of the Kyl-Lieberman Amendment) which states that it is the sense of Congress that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps be designated as a foreign terrorist organization and placed on the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists established by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. However, in the conference report, the conferees also strongly endorsed "the administration's pursuit of a diplomatic approach to address this Iranian threat."

President Submitted Policy Objectives on Iran
House and Senate Conferees agreed to drop a provision in the Senate version of the bill which stated that not more than 75 percent of the amount authorized could be obligated until the President submitted a report on U.S. policy objectives and strategy regarding Iran. Of particular note, the conference report of the FY2008 Defense Authorization bill notes that the report was submitted. No public version is yet available.

Required Reports Assessing Iran's Role in Iraq
The bill requires that the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, submit to the congressional defense committees a report describing and assessing in detail Iran's role in Iraq. The report must be submitted within 60 days after the date of enactment and every 180 days thereafter. The amendment also provides that the reporting requirement would terminate when the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, certifies to the congressional defense committees that Iran has ceased to provide military support to anti-coalition forces in Iraq.

Iranian Ballistic Missile Threat Reinforced
The House receded to the Senate provision stating it is the policy of the United States to develop and deploy in conjunction with its allies and other nations an effective defense against Iranian ballistic missiles. The provision was added to the Senate version on July 12, when the Senate voted 90 to 5 to pass Amendment No. 2024 introduced by Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL). It should be noted, however, that Congress cut out $85 million in construction funding for the new missile defense sites in Europe from the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Appropriations bill.

Defense Authorization Conferees Refuse to Blacklist Iran-Syria Nonproliferation Act Violators
The House version of the FY2008 Defense Authorization contained a provision which would have prohibited the Department of Defense from procuring goods or services from companies in violation of the Iran-Syria Nonproliferation Act (Public Law 106–178; 50 U.S.C. 1701). However, the conference report refused to blacklist violators of the Iran-Syria Nonproliferation Act.