Law and Government Legislation regarding 'Armed forces abroad' in Federal Government

Expresses the need for a comprehensive diplomatic initiative led by the United States, the Republic of Iraq, and the international community to ensure the establishment of a cohesive government in Iraq.

Expresses condolences to the number of Iraqis who have been killed, displaced, or wounded.

Expresses gratitude to the coalition forces and other international supporters for their contribution and sacrifice in the efforts to bring peace to Iraq.

Recognizes that the U.S. government owes a debt of gratitude to the men and women who have served in Iraq and who now deserve comprehensive rehabilitation and assistance.

Recognizes and honors the sacrifice of the members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families on the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war.

Urges President George W. Bush: (1) not to enter into any long-term United States-Iraq strategic agreement without the approval of Congress; (2) to begin an immediate and safe redeployment of forces from Iraq; and (3) to live up to his responsibilities and adequately provide health care assistance to U.S. troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Recognizes the strategic importance of the African continent and welcomes the establishment of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).

Encourages African nations to take advantage of the opportunity which AFRICOM represents to collaborate in promoting peace and stability on the continent.

Supports the idea that the war in Iraq is not lost.

Recognizes that: (1) the overall progress being made on the ground in Iraq is undeniable; (2) much of this progress is due to the skill and valor of the American service member; and (3) the decision by the President and our military leadership to provide a surge of troops to implement a new counterinsurgency strategy was the correct course of action.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Authorizes the use of the Capitol rotunda on March 13, 2008, for a ceremony to: (1) honor the five years of service and sacrifice of our troops and their families in the war in Iraq; and (2) remember those who are serving our nation in Afghanistan and throughout the world.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Designates March 26, 2008, as National Support the Troops and Their Families Day. Encourages all Americans to participate in a moment of silence to reflect upon the service and sacrifice of members of the Armed Forces and their families.

Expresses the the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the current U.S. economic slowdown is directly related to the enormous costs of the ongoing occupation of Iraq; and (2) Congress should move to redeploy U.S. Armed Forces and contractor security forces from Iraq as quickly and as safely as practical and refocus its efforts on addressing vital domestic priorities.

Honors the sacrifice of all mothers in the Armed Forces who have deployed to theaters of combat on behalf of the United States.

Commends the service of approximately 130,000 military mothers who have deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa in support of the Global War on Terror.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Recognizes the 69th Infantry Regiment, or the Fighting 69th, as one of the great regiments in American military history that has continually participated in the Global War on Terror since the attack on September 11, 2001, as it deploys to Afghanistan.

Directs the President to transition the mission of U.S. forces in Iraq to the following purposes: (1) conducting limited scope and duration operations against al Qaeda and other international terrorist organizations; (2) providing security for U.S. infrastructure and personnel; (3) training and equipping Iraqi security services and U.S. forces; and (4) redeploying U.S. forces from Iraq. Exempts such activities from the funding and redeployment provisions of this Act.

Directs the President to begin the phased redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq.

Prohibits funds from being obligated or expended to continue the U.S. Armed Forces deployment in Iraq as of 120 days after the enactment of this Act.

Directs the Secretaries of Defense, State, and Homeland Security to jointly submit to Congress a report setting forth U.S. global strategy to defeat al Qaeda and its affiliates.

Commends the 3rd Battalion, 29th Infantry of the Alaska Army National Guard upon its completion of deployment and service to the Commonwealth of Alaska and the citizens of the United States.

Expresses the need for a comprehensive diplomatic initiative led by the United States, the Republic of Iraq, and the international community to ensure the establishment of a cohesive government in Iraq.

Expresses condolences to the number of Iraqis who have been killed, displaced, or wounded.

Recognizes that the U.S. government owes a debt of gratitude to the men and women who have served in Iraq and who now deserve comprehensive rehabilitation and assistance.

Commends the 3rd Battalion, 29th Infantry of the Alaska Army National Guard upon its completion of deployment and service to the Commonwealth of Alaska and the citizens of the United States.

National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to back-date to September 11, 2001, the period of active duty or performed active service, in support of a contingency operation or in other emergency situations, for which members of Ready Reserve components of the armed forces shall receive credit in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay.

Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the United States, in concert with its international partners, should strengthen its commitment to stabilizing Afghanistan and contribute the necessary levels of economic, civilian, and military resources to achieve that end; and (2) the United States should redeploy to Afghanistan military forces in Iraq not essential for targeted counterterrorism activities, training and equipping Iraqi security forces, or protection of U.S. citizens and facilities.

Recognizes the strategic importance of the African continent and welcomes the establishment of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in Stuttgart, Germany.

Urges the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of State, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to work collaboratively and to consult with African partners in implementing AFRICOM's mandate.

Encourages African nations to take advantage of AFRICOM to collaborate in promoting peace and stability on the continent.

Expresses the need for a comprehensive diplomatic initiative led by the United States, the Republic of Iraq, and the international community to ensure the establishment of a cohesive government in Iraq.

Expresses condolences to the number of Iraqis who have been killed, displaced, or wounded.

Recognizes that the U.S. government owes a debt of gratitude to the men and women who have served in Iraq and who now deserve comprehensive rehabilitation and assistance.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Authorizes a Senator, officer, or employee of the Senate to: (1) collect from another such individual, within Senate buildings, nonmonetary donations to be sent to U.S. military personnel on active duty overseas participating in or in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and the war on terrorism; and (2) work with a nonprofit organization with respect to the delivery of such donations.

Commends all U.S. Post Offices that display photographs of local community members who are serving in the Armed Forces and are deployed overseas.

Reaffirms the authority of the U.S. Postal Service to display in post offices official photographs of members of the Armed Forces at the request of the community or the servicemembers' families.

Urges U.S. Post Offices to reserve or designate space in their public areas for the purpose of displaying photographs of servicemembers.

Commends the 3rd Battalion, 29th Infantry of the Alaska Army National Guard upon its completion of deployment and service to the Commonwealth of Alaska and the citizens of the United States.

Expresses the sense of Congress that the U.S. government should submit to the government of Iraq a draft bilateral status-of-forces agreement which should: (1) address the sovereign rights of Iraq, underlining that the United States is not an occupying power; (2) address the legal status of U.S. personnel in Iraq; and (3) establish coordinative mechanisms with respect to investigations and operations involving U.S. and Iraqi forces, including civilian police forces.

Commends and recognizes the achievements of members of certain sections of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Kentucky Army National Guard for their service in Iraq.

Combat Troops Tax Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the taxpayer election to include combat zone compensation as earned income for purposes of calculating the earned income tax credit; and (2) allow an additional $1,000 standard tax deduction in 2007 and 2008 for members of the uniformed services on active duty for more than 30 days.

Commends the 1st-149th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion of the Texas Army National Guard upon the completion of its mission of providing support with their AH-64A Apache attack helicopters in Iraq and recognizes the Battalion's achievements in their service to Texas and the United States.

Servicemember Student Loan Interest Relief Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide that no interest shall accrue on student loans under the Federal Direct Loan program for individuals who are serving on active duty or performing National Guard duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency. Limits receipt of such benefit to 60 months.

Requires the Secretary of Education to offer direct consolidation loans to eligible service members who want to avoid the accrual of interest on existing loans.

Safeguarding Families of Soldiers Act - Provides for the permanent resident status adjustment of: (1) a parent or spouse of an Armed Forces member deployed in Iraq in connection with Operation Freedom or in Afghanistan in connection with Operation Enduring Freedom; or (2) a son or daughter under the age of 21 years old of such Armed Forces member.

Authorizes waiver of specified grounds of inadmissibility for humanitarian purposes, to assure family unity, or when otherwise in the public interest.