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Iraq Liberation Act of 1998

Public Law 105-338 · H.R. 4655 · 105th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Oct 31, 1998 · International Affairs

Sponsor: Rep. Benjamin Gilman (R-NY-20)

Cosponsors (1): Rep. Christopher Cox

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 360 yea, 38 nay360–38
  • SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 - Declares that it should be the policy of the United States to seek to remove the Saddam Hussein regime from power in Iraq and to replace it with a democratic government.

Authorizes the President, after notifying specified congressional committees, to provide to the Iraqi democratic opposition organizations: (1) grant assistance for radio and television broadcasting to Iraq; (2) Department of Defense (DOD) defense articles and services and military education and training (IMET); and (3) humanitarian assistance, with emphasis on addressing the needs of individuals who have fled from areas under the control of the Hussein regime. Prohibits assistance to any group or organization that is engaged in military cooperation with the Hussein regime. Authorizes appropriations.

Directs the President to designate: (1) one or more Iraqi democratic opposition organizations that meet specified criteria as eligible to receive assistance under this Act; and (2) additional such organizations which satisfy the President's criteria.

Urges the President to call upon the United Nations to establish an international criminal tribunal for the purpose of indicting, prosecuting, and imprisoning Saddam Hussein and other Iraqi officials who are responsible for crimes against humanity, genocide, and other criminal violations of international law.

Expresses the sense of the Congress that once the Saddam Hussein regime is removed from power in Iraq, the United States should support Iraq's transition to democracy by providing humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people and democracy transition assistance to Iraqi parties and movements with democratic goals, including convening Iraq's foreign creditors to develop a multilateral response to the foreign debt incurred by the Hussein regime.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 105th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 360 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

360 yea38 nay36 present or did not vote

Dimension 2
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(158)

  • Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7
  • Rep. Bob FilnerD-CA-50
  • Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4
  • Rep. David BoniorD-MI-10
  • Rep. John OlverD-MA-1
  • Rep. Gregory MeeksD-NY-6
  • Rep. Maurice HincheyD-NY-26
  • Rep. Nydia VelázquezD-NY-12
  • Rep. Robert BradyD-PA-1
  • Rep. Esteban TorresD-CA-34
  • Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
  • Rep. Bill DelahuntD-MA-10
  • Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
  • Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
  • Rep. Lynn WoolseyD-CA-6
  • Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
  • Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-29
  • Rep. Carolyn KilpatrickD-MI-15
  • Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
  • Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15
  • Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-8
  • Rep. William CoyneD-PA-14
  • Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6
  • Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-28
  • Rep. Michael McNultyD-NY-21
  • Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
  • Rep. John TierneyD-MA-6
  • Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
  • Rep. Sherrod BrownD-OH-13
  • Rep. Luis GutiérrezD-IL-4
  • Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
  • Rep. Chaka FattahD-PA-2
  • Rep. Bernie SandersD-VT
  • Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-3
  • Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
  • Rep. Carrie MeekD-FL-17
  • Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6
  • Rep. Bobby ScottD-VA-3
  • Rep. Diana DeGetteD-CO-1
  • Rep. Sam GejdensonD-CT-2
  • Rep. Sam FarrD-CA-17
  • Rep. Marty MeehanD-MA-5
  • Rep. Eva ClaytonD-NC-1
  • Rep. Patrick KennedyD-RI-1
  • Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18
  • Rep. Thomas BarrettD-WI-5
  • Rep. Dennis KucinichD-OH-10
  • Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14
  • Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-29
  • Rep. Corrine BrownD-FL-3
  • Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-5
  • Rep. Robert BorskiD-PA-3
  • Rep. Elijah CummingsD-MD-7
  • Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17
  • Rep. Lane EvansD-IL-17
  • Rep. Matthew MartínezD-CA-31
  • Rep. Joseph KennedyD-MA-8
  • Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
  • Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14
  • Rep. Tom AllenD-ME-1
  • Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
  • Rep. Zoe LofgrenD-CA-16
  • Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-12
  • Rep. Earl BlumenauerD-OR-3
  • Rep. Bob MenendezD-NJ-13
  • Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
  • Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
  • Rep. Thomas SawyerD-OH-14
  • Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1
  • Rep. Peter DeutschD-FL-20
  • Rep. Albert WynnD-MD-4
  • Rep. Robert WexlerD-FL-19
  • Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12
  • Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-2
  • Rep. Ciro RodriguezD-TX-28
  • Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-26
  • Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-5
  • Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1
  • Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
  • Rep. Karen ThurmanD-FL-5
  • Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
  • Rep. John BaldacciD-ME-2
  • Rep. Chuck SchumerD-NY-9
  • Rep. Karen McCarthyD-MO-5
  • Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11
  • Rep. Loretta SanchezD-CA-46
  • Rep. Robert WeygandD-RI-2
  • Rep. Ted StricklandD-OH-6
  • Rep. Jay JohnsonD-WI-8
  • Rep. Silvestre ReyesD-TX-16
  • Rep. Darlene HooleyD-OR-5
  • Rep. Rod BlagojevichD-IL-5
  • Rep. Debbie StabenowD-MI-8
  • Rep. Bill PascrellD-NJ-8
  • Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29
  • Rep. Lois CappsD-CA-22
  • Rep. Robert WiseD-WV-2
  • Rep. Thomas MantonD-NY-7
  • Rep. Nick LampsonD-TX-9
  • Rep. Ron KindD-WI-3
  • Rep. Benjamin CardinD-MD-3
  • Rep. Jim DavisD-FL-11
  • Rep. Steven RothmanD-NJ-9
  • Rep. Marion BerryD-AR-1
  • Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12
  • Rep. William LutherD-MN-6
  • Rep. David PriceD-NC-4
  • Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
  • Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3
  • Rep. Ken BentsenD-TX-25
  • Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-11
  • Rep. Ron KlinkD-PA-4
  • Rep. Adam SmithD-WA-9
  • Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-9
  • Rep. Bob EtheridgeD-NC-2
  • Rep. Ellen TauscherD-CA-10
  • Rep. Vic SnyderD-AR-2
  • Rep. Jerry KleczkaD-WI-4
  • Rep. Earl PomeroyD-ND
  • Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8
  • Rep. Carolyn McCarthyD-NY-4
  • Rep. James MaloneyD-CT-5
  • Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1
  • Rep. David MingeD-MN-2
  • Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9
  • Rep. Brad ShermanD-CA-24
  • Rep. Frank MascaraD-PA-20
  • Rep. Paul McHaleD-PA-15
  • Rep. Cal DooleyD-CA-20
  • Rep. Max SandlinD-TX-1
  • Rep. Robert ClementD-TN-5
  • Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27
  • Rep. Michael DoyleD-PA-18
  • Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
  • Rep. Tim HoldenD-PA-6
  • Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
  • Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6
  • Rep. James BarciaD-MI-5
  • Rep. Leonard BoswellD-IA-3
  • Rep. John TannerD-TN-8
  • Rep. Owen PickettD-VA-2
  • Rep. Allen BoydD-FL-2
  • Rep. Timothy RoemerD-IN-3
  • Rep. Jim TurnerD-TX-2
  • Rep. Scotty BaeslerD-KY-6
  • Rep. Norman SisiskyD-VA-4
  • Rep. William LipinskiD-IL-3
  • Rep. Gary ConditD-CA-18
  • Rep. Pat DannerD-MO-6
  • Rep. Collin PetersonD-MN-7
  • Rep. Chris JohnD-LA-7
  • Rep. Mike McIntyreD-NC-7
  • Rep. Bud CramerD-AL-5
  • Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
  • Rep. Gene TaylorD-MS-5
  • Rep. James TraficantD-OH-17
  • Rep. Virgil GoodeD-VA-5
  • Rep. Ralph HallD-TX-4

Republicans who voted yea(202)

  • Rep. Constance MorellaR-MD-8
  • Rep. Michael ForbesR-NY-1
  • Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-6
  • Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
  • Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-20
  • Rep. Amo HoughtonR-NY-31
  • Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4
  • Rep. Michael CastleR-DE
  • Rep. Jack QuinnR-NY-30
  • Rep. Marge RoukemaR-NJ-5
  • Rep. Stephen HornR-CA-38
  • Rep. John McHughR-NY-24
  • Rep. Pete KingR-NY-3
  • Rep. Sue KellyR-NY-19
  • Rep. Rick LazioR-NY-2
  • Rep. Lincoln Diaz-BalartR-FL-21
  • Rep. Steven LaTouretteR-OH-19
  • Rep. Wayne GilchrestR-MD-1
  • Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
  • Rep. Jon FoxR-PA-13
  • Rep. Jim SaxtonR-NJ-3
  • Rep. Tom DavisR-VA-11
  • Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
  • Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
  • Rep. Curt WeldonR-PA-7
  • Rep. Bob FranksR-NJ-7
  • Rep. Frank LoBiondoR-NJ-2
  • Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
  • Rep. Bob NeyR-OH-18
  • Rep. Rodney FrelinghuysenR-NJ-11
  • Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-40
  • Rep. Phil EnglishR-PA-21
  • Rep. Herbert BatemanR-VA-1
  • Rep. Joseph SkeenR-NM-2
  • Rep. Jim RamstadR-MN-3
  • Rep. Greg GanskeR-IA-4
  • Rep. Bill BarrettR-NE-3
  • Rep. Jay KimR-CA-41
  • Rep. Michael OxleyR-OH-4
  • Rep. Linda SmithR-WA-3
  • Rep. Brian BilbrayR-CA-49
  • Rep. William RedmondR-NM-3
  • Rep. Jerry WellerR-IL-11
  • Rep. Heather WilsonR-NM-1
  • Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-22
  • Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
  • Rep. Harris FawellR-IL-13
  • Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-23
  • Rep. Anne NorthupR-KY-3
  • Rep. Don YoungR-AK
  • Rep. Tom CampbellR-CA-15
  • Rep. John ShimkusR-IL-20
  • Rep. Vernon EhlersR-MI-3
  • Rep. Robert LivingstonR-LA-1
  • Rep. Jack MetcalfR-WA-2
  • Rep. Jim KolbeR-AZ-5
  • Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6
  • Rep. Mike ParkerR-MS-4
  • Rep. Paul GillmorR-OH-5
  • Rep. Joe KnollenbergR-MI-11
  • Rep. Tom LathamR-IA-5
  • Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-21
  • Rep. George GekasR-PA-17
  • Rep. Robert SmithR-OR-2
  • Rep. Jim BunningR-KY-4
  • Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
  • Rep. Ed WhitfieldR-KY-1
  • Rep. Ron PackardR-CA-48
  • Rep. Merrill CookR-UT-2
  • Rep. Jo Ann EmersonI-MO-8
  • Rep. Bill JenkinsR-TN-1
  • Rep. Jim McCreryR-LA-4
  • Rep. Charlie BassR-NH-2
  • Rep. Asa HutchinsonR-AR-3
  • Rep. Rick WhiteR-WA-1
  • Rep. H. CallahanR-AL-1
  • Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21
  • Rep. Michael PappasR-NJ-12
  • Rep. Spencer BachusR-AL-6
  • Rep. Henry BonillaR-TX-23
  • Rep. Wes WatkinsR-OK-3
  • Rep. Mark FoleyR-FL-16
  • Rep. Michael BilirakisR-FL-9
  • Rep. Richard BakerR-LA-6
  • Rep. Dave HobsonR-OH-7
  • Rep. Scott KlugR-WI-2
  • Rep. John ThuneR-SD
  • Rep. Steve BuyerR-IN-5
  • Rep. John PetersonR-PA-5
  • Rep. Roger WickerR-MS-1
  • Rep. Tom BlileyR-VA-7
  • Rep. Charles CanadyR-FL-12
  • Rep. Jim NussleR-IA-2
  • Rep. Saxby ChamblissR-GA-8
  • Rep. Edward PeaseR-IN-7
  • Rep. Jay DickeyR-AR-4
  • Rep. Rob PortmanR-OH-2
  • Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
  • Rep. Dave CampR-MI-4
  • Rep. Tillie FowlerR-FL-4
  • Rep. Chip PickeringR-MS-3
  • Rep. Mary Bono MackR-CA-44
  • Rep. John CookseyR-LA-5
  • Rep. John MicaR-FL-7
  • Rep. Rick HillR-MT
  • Rep. Scott McInnisR-CO-3
  • Rep. George NethercuttR-WA-5
  • Rep. Kenny HulshofR-MO-9
  • Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
  • Rep. Robert AderholtR-AL-4
  • Rep. Duke CunninghamR-CA-51
  • Rep. Robert EhrlichR-MD-2
  • Rep. Bob GoodlatteR-VA-6
  • Rep. Frank LucasR-OK-6
  • Rep. Mike CrapoR-ID-2
  • Rep. Ron LewisR-KY-2
  • Rep. Jennifer DunnR-WA-8
  • Rep. John BoehnerR-OH-8
  • Rep. Denny HastertR-IL-14
  • Rep. David DreierR-CA-28
  • Rep. Lindsey GrahamR-SC-3
  • Rep. Jerry MoranR-KS-1
  • Rep. Cass BallengerR-NC-10
  • Rep. Bill McCollumR-FL-8
  • Rep. Gil GutknechtR-MN-1
  • Rep. Buck McKeonR-CA-25
  • Rep. Richard BurrR-NC-5
  • Rep. Joseph PittsR-PA-16
  • Rep. Bob RileyR-AL-3
  • Rep. John LinderR-GA-11
  • Rep. J.C. WattsR-OK-4
  • Rep. Roy BluntR-MO-7
  • Rep. Charles TaylorR-NC-11
  • Rep. Vito FossellaR-NY-13
  • Rep. Porter GossR-FL-14
  • Rep. John KasichR-OH-12
  • Rep. Larry CombestR-TX-19
  • Rep. Nick SmithR-MI-7
  • Rep. Ed BryantR-TN-7
  • Rep. Doc HastingsR-WA-4
  • Rep. Kevin BradyR-TX-8
  • Rep. Dan MillerR-FL-13
  • Rep. Dave WeldonR-FL-15
  • Rep. Jim TalentR-MO-2
  • Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
  • Rep. Dan BurtonR-IN-6
  • Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-52
  • Rep. John SununuR-NH-1
  • Rep. Jon ChristensenR-NE-2
  • Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
  • Rep. James RoganR-CA-27
  • Rep. Mark SouderR-IN-4
  • Rep. William PaxonR-NY-27
  • Rep. Zach WampR-TN-3
  • Rep. Jim GibbonsR-NV-2
  • Rep. Gerald SolomonR-NY-22
  • Rep. J.D. HayworthR-AZ-6
  • Rep. Richard ArmeyR-TX-26
  • Rep. Mac ThornberryR-TX-13
  • Rep. Vincent SnowbargerR-KS-3
  • Rep. Jack KingstonR-GA-1
  • Rep. Bob InglisR-SC-4
  • Rep. Mac CollinsR-GA-3
  • Rep. Jim RyunR-KS-2
  • Rep. Barbara CubinR-WY
  • Rep. Sue MyrickR-NC-9
  • Rep. Nathan DealR-GA-9
  • Rep. George RadanovichR-CA-19
  • Rep. Jimmy DuncanR-TN-2
  • Rep. Tom DeLayR-TX-22
  • Rep. Ernest IstookR-OK-5
  • Rep. Joe BartonR-TX-6
  • Rep. Donald ManzulloR-IL-16
  • Rep. Pete HoekstraR-MI-2
  • Rep. Steve ChabotR-OH-1
  • Rep. Chris CannonR-UT-3
  • Rep. Christopher CoxR-CA-47
  • Rep. Wally HergerR-CA-2
  • Rep. Sam JohnsonR-TX-3
  • Rep. Todd TiahrtR-KS-4
  • Rep. Pete SessionsR-TX-5
  • Rep. Walter JonesR-NC-3
  • Rep. Steve LargentR-OK-1
  • Rep. John DoolittleR-CA-4
  • Rep. Howard CobleR-NC-6
  • Rep. Cliff StearnsR-FL-6
  • Rep. Mark NeumannR-WI-1
  • Rep. Joel HefleyR-CO-5
  • Rep. David McIntoshR-IN-2
  • Rep. Van HillearyR-TN-4
  • Rep. Robert StumpR-AZ-3
  • Rep. John EnsignR-NV-1
  • Rep. Bob BarrR-GA-7
  • Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-8
  • Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9
  • Rep. Matt SalmonR-AZ-1
  • Rep. John ShadeggR-AZ-4
  • Rep. Bob SchafferR-CO-4
  • Rep. Dana RohrabacherR-CA-45
  • Rep. Thomas CoburnR-OK-2
  • Rep. Joe ScarboroughR-FL-1
  • Rep. Ed RoyceR-CA-39
Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1102 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 11 actions.

  1. Oct 31, 1998Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 105-338.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 20, 1998PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 7, 1998FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  5. Oct 5, 1998FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  6. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 360 - 38 (Roll No. 482).House roll call 482
  7. FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 5, rule I, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  8. FloorFloor · Mr. Gilman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  9. Oct 2, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Foreign Affairs Committee
  10. Sep 29, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Foreign Affairs Committee
  11. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.