Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, is one of three original co-sponsors of the bill, which requires reports from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates no later than 60 days after passage and every 90 days thereafter.

The bill also would require Gates, senior defense officials and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to brief the committees on the reports.

"It's veto-proof and I think we'll hold it," said Abercrombie, who chairs the Armed Services Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces. "We are taking the first solid stand in moving toward ending the war."

The bill passed the House Armed Services Committee in July with a 55-2 vote but stalled over the summer after some lawmakers opposed its lack of a timeline for withdrawal.

Several lawmakers continued to lobby for its passage. A bipartisan group of 13 lawmakers, including Abercrombie, petitioned House leadership on Sept. 5 to bring the measure to a vote. A later petition included signatures from 48 Democrats.

An original draft of the bill sought a "comprehensive strategy" for redeployment. But in a bid to gain wider support, it was changed before the committee voted to require reports "on the status of planning."

Abercrombie said the change reflects the reality of the planning process and that there are multiple plans for redeployment.

"It gives Congress the opportunity to pick and choose," he said.

The bill does not recommend any particular contingency plan but states that contingency planning for redeployment should address protection of the troops, contractors, U.S. civilians and others; the ability to eliminate al-Qaida and preserving necessary military equipment.

Planning also should describe a range of possible scenarios for redeployment, outline multiple possible redeployment timetables and describe the possible missions and projected number of troops who would remain in Iraq.

Those missions include protecting U.S. vital interests, conducting counterterrorism operations, protecting U.S. troops and civilians, and supporting Iraqi forces.

"The next step will be actually insisting and voting on redeployment activity, whether in increments or as a comprehensive plan," said Abercrombie, who is looking for a Senate sponsor for the legislation. "It's coming."