H.R. 1238 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1238 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 18, 2013 Mr. Braley of Iowa (for himself and Mr. Jones) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To direct the President to submit to Congress a report on the long-term costs of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the True Cost of War Act of 2013. 2. Report on long-term costs of operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (a) Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) The United States has been engaged in military operations in Afghanistan since October 2001 as Operation Enduring Freedom and in military operations in Iraq since March 2003 as Operation Iraqi Freedom and its successor contingency operation, Operation New Dawn. (2) According to the Congressional Research Service, through fiscal year 2013, Congress has appropriated $1,500,000,000,000 for the Department of Defense, for the State Department, and for medical costs paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This amount includes $821,000,000,000 related to operations in Iraq and $645,000,000,000 related to operations in Afghanistan. (3) Over 90 percent of the funds appropriated for the Department of Defense for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have been provided as supplemental or additional appropriations and designated as an emergency funding requirement. (4) The Congressional Budget Office and the Congressional Research Service have stated that future costs for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are difficult to estimate because the Department of Defense provides little information on costs incurred to date and actual expenditure for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan (because war and baseline funds are mixed in the same accounts) and because of a lack of information from the Department of Defense on many of the key factors that determine costs, including personnel levels and the pace of operations. (5) Over 2,400,000 members of the United States Armed Forces have served in Afghanistan and Iraq since the beginning of the conflicts. (6) Over 4,400 members of the Armed Forces and Department of Defense civilian personnel have been killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and over 2,100 members of the Armed Forces and Department of Defense civilian personnel have been killed in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. (7) Over 1,715 members of the Armed Forces have suffered amputations as a result of wounds or other injuries incurred in Afghanistan or Iraq. (8) More than 250,000 veterans of military service in Iraq and Afghanistan have been treated for mental health conditions, more than 100,000 of these veterans have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, and approximately 253,330 of these veterans have a confirmed traumatic brain injury diagnosis. (9) Approximately 54 percent of veterans of military service in Iraq and Afghanistan have sought treatment at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital or medical clinic. (10) The Independent Review Group on Rehabilitative Care and Administrative Processes at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center identified traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, increased survival of severe burns, and traumatic amputations as the four signature wounds of the current conflicts, and the Independent Review Group report states that the recovery process can take months or years and must accommodate recurring or delayed manifestations of symptoms, extended rehabilitation and all the life complications that emerge over time from such trauma. (b) Report requirement Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President, with contributions from the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall submit to Congress a report containing an estimate of previous costs of Operation New Dawn (the successor contingency operation to Operation Iraqi Freedom) and the long-term costs of Operation Enduring Freedom for a scenario, determined by the President and based on current contingency operation and withdrawal plans, that takes into account expected force levels and the expected length of time that members of the Armed Forces will be deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (c) Estimates To be used in preparation of report In preparing the report required by subsection (b), the President shall make estimates and projections through at least fiscal year 2023, adjust any dollar amounts appropriately for inflation, and take into account and specify each of the following: (1) The total number of members of the Armed Forces expected to be deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, including— (A) the number of members of the Armed Forces actually deployed in Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; (B) the number of members of reserve components of the Armed Forces called or ordered to active duty in the United States for the purpose of training for eventual deployment in Southwest Asia, backfilling for deployed troops, or supporting other Department of Defense missions directly or indirectly related to Operation Enduring Freedom; and (C) the break-down of deployments of members of the regular and reserve components and activation of members of the reserve components. (2) The number of members of the Armed Forces, including members of the reserve components, who have previously served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, or Operation Enduring Freedom and who are expected to serve multiple deployments. (3) The number of contractors and private military security firms that have been used and are expected to be used during the course of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Enduring Freedom. (4) The number of veterans currently suffering and expected to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or other mental injuries. (5) The number of veterans currently in need of and expected to be in need of prosthetic care and treatment because of amputations incurred during service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, or Operation Enduring Freedom. (6) The current number of pending Department of Veterans Affairs claims from veterans of military service in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the total number of such veterans expected to seek disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. (7) The total number of members of the Armed Forces who have been killed or wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan, including noncombat casualties, the total number of members expected to suffer injuries in Afghanistan, and the total number of members expected to be killed in Afghanistan, including noncombat casualties. (8) The amount of funds previously appropriated for the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the Department of Veterans Affairs for costs related to Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Enduring Freedom, including an account of the amount of funding from regular Department of Defense, Department of State, and Department of Veterans Affairs budgets that has gone and will go to costs associated with such operations. (9) Previous, current, and future operational expenditures associated with Operation Enduring Freedom and, when applicable, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, including— (A) funding for combat operations; (B) deploying, transporting, feeding, and housing members of the Armed Forces (including fuel costs); (C) activation and deployment of members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces; (D) equipping and training of Iraqi and Afghani forces; (E) purchasing, upgrading, and repairing weapons, munitions, and other equipment consumed or used in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, or Operation Enduring Freedom; and (F) payments to other countries for logistical assistance in support of such operations. (10) Past, current, and future costs of entering into contracts with private military security firms and other contractors for the provision of goods and services associated with Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Enduring Freedom. (11) Average annual cost for each member of the Armed Forces deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, including room and board, equipment and body armor, transportation of troops and equipment (including fuel costs), and operational costs. (12) Current and future cost of combat-related special pays and benefits, including reenlistment bonuses. (13) Current and future cost of calling or ordering members of the reserve components to active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (14) Current and future cost for reconstruction, embassy operations and construction, and foreign aid programs for Iraq and Afghanistan. (15) Current and future cost of bases and other infrastructure to support members of the Armed Forces serving in Afghanistan. (16) Current and future cost of providing health care for veterans who served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, or Operation Enduring Freedom, including— (A) the cost of mental health treatment for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, and other mental problems as a result of such service; and (B) the cost of lifetime prosthetics care and treatment for veterans suffering from amputations as a result of such service. (17) Current and future cost of providing Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits for the lifetime of veterans who incur disabilities while serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, or Operation Enduring Freedom. (18) Current and future cost of providing survivors’ benefits to survivors of members of the Armed Forces killed while serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, or Operation Enduring Freedom. (19) Cost of bringing members of the Armed Forces and equipment back to the United States upon the conclusion of Operation Enduring Freedom, including the cost of demobilization, transportation costs (including fuel costs), providing transition services for members of the Armed Forces transitioning from active duty to veteran status, transporting equipment, weapons, and munitions (including fuel costs), and an estimate of the value of equipment that will be left behind. (20) Cost to restore the military and military equipment, including the equipment of the reserve components, to full strength after the conclusion of Operation Enduring Freedom. (21) Amount of money borrowed to pay for Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Enduring Freedom, and the sources of that money. (22) Interest on money borrowed, including interest for money already borrowed and anticipated interest payments on future borrowing, for Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Enduring Freedom.