On October 10, 2002, Rep. Waxman voted for resolution H.J.Res. 114, authorizing the use of military force to ensure Iraq's disarmament of weapons of mass destruction. He did so with the expectation that a strong bipartisan stand in Congress would pressure the United Nations to carry out its responsibilities to enforce its own resolutions and because he believed it was necessary to send a tough message for Saddam Hussein to understand he would have to comply.

Strong congressional support for H.J.Res. 114 led to unanimous UN Security Council support for Resolution 1441, which called for Iraq's disarmament and full cooperation with UN weapons inspectors. Rep. Waxman grew concerned, however, about President Bush’s push for unilateral action without the support of the international community. On January 24, 2003, he joined more than 130 Members of Congress in a letter urging President Bush to work with the United Nations and our international partners.

On March 17, 2003, Rep. Waxman called for an investigation of the revelation that the President relied on false intelligence sources to present the case for war with Iraq to the American people and the United Nations. On June 26, 2003, he introduced H.R. 2625, which would establish an Independent Commission on Intelligence about Iraq - modeled after the September 11 Commission - to examine pre-war intelligence and the representations made by executive branch officials about Iraqi efforts to develop and deploy weapons of mass destruction.

In addition, Rep. Waxman has initiated an intensive investigation of the Bush Administration's process for awarding post-war contracts in Iraq to ensure fairness and accountability in U.S. funded projects for Iraq reconstruction. He remains deeply concerned about allegations that Halliburton, a company with close ties to Vice President Dick Cheney, has received special treatment from the Administration in the awarding of Defense Department contracts, including some related to Iraqi reconstruction.

Statements

March 23, 2007
Rep. Waxman's Statement on H.R. 1591, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill

February 16, 2007
Rep. Waxman's Statement on H.Con.Res. 63, The Iraq War Policy Resolution.

March 16, 2006
Rep. Waxman's statement on H.AMDT.746, the Waxman Amendment to H.R. 4939, the FY 06 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery

February 9, 2006
Rep. Waxman's statement on H.R. 1268, the FY 05 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief

May 6, 2004
Rep. Waxman's statement on H.Res. 627, condemning the abuse of detainees at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad

March 17, 2004
Rep. Waxman's statement on H.Res. 557, marking the anniversary of the war in Iraq

October 17, 2003
Rep. Waxman’s statement on H.R. 3289, the FY 04 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan

October 10, 2002
Rep. Waxman's statement on H.J.Res. 114, to authorize the use of military force against Iraq

Legislation

H.Con.Res. 197
Rep. Waxman cosponsored legislation declaring that it is the policy of the United States not to enter into any base agreement with the Government of Iraq that would lead to a permanent United States military presence in Iraq.

H.R. 3003
Rep. Waxman joined Democratic Leader Pelosi and other senior Democrats to introduce legislation to establish an independent Comission to investigate abuses of detainees in connection with Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, or any operation within the Global War on Terrorism.

H.R. 3142 Iraq Sovereignty Promotion Act of 2005
Rep. Waxman cosponsored legislation expressing the sense of Congress that it should be United States policy not to maintain a long-term or permanent military presence in Iraq.

H.R. 2625
Rep. Waxman's legislation to establish an independent commission to examine the intelligence about Iraq and the representations made by executive branch officials about this intelligence.

H.R. 3275
Rep Waxman joined Rep. Carolyn Maloney to introduce the Clean Contracting in Iraq Act.