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I'M REMINDED OF RONALD REAGAN
WHO ATTACKED LIBYA WITH
AIRPOWER AND CALLED GADDAFI THE
MAD DOG OF THE MIDDLE EAST.
AND I YIELD BACK THE REMAINING
OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA.
YOU RESERVE?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
CONTINUE TO
RESERVE.
MR. SPEAKER, I'M
PLEASED TO YIELD 90 SECONDS TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN,
MR. LEVIN.
THE
RECOGNIZED.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE SHOULD LEARN
FROM THE PAST.
THERE ARE INDEED TIMES WHEN
AMERICAN NATIONAL INTERESTS
SHOULD OVERTAKE POLITICAL OR
PARTISAN POLITICAL INTERESTS.
I REMEMBER THE DEBATE ON KOSOVO
12 YEARS AGO.
CONGRESS REFUSED TO AUTHORIZE
AMERICAN ACTION BY A SPLIT
VOTE.
THAT WAS A TRAGIC MISTAKE.
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
OPPOSED THAT RESOLUTION.
187 NOES AGAINST 31 YESES.
I BELIEVE IT WAS CLEAR THEN
THAT REPUBLICANS WOULD NOT HAVE
OPPOSED THE KOSOVO RESOLUTION,
AT LEAST IN THOSE NUMBERS, IF
GEORGE BUSH HAD BEEN PRESIDENT.
TODAY THERE ARE ECHOES FROM
KOSOVO ON THIS LIBYAN
RESOLUTION.
THE REPUBLICANS SHOULD NOT MAKE
THE SAME MISTAKE AGAIN.
WE SHOULD JOIN TOGETHER TO
SUPPORT THE HASTINGS RESOLUTION
THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR
POWERS ACT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I'M GOING TO YIELD
-- MR. SPEAKER, I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA,
MR. ELLISON.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR A MINUTE AND A
MR. SPEAKER, I
RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE HASTINGS
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER THAT U.S. MILITARY
FORCE IS A VERY AWESOME THING
AND SHOULD ONLY BE PLANNED
PARENTHOOD IN VERY SELECT
CIRCUMSTANCES -- SHOULD ONLY BE
USED IN VERY SELECT
CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE HAVE USED THAT IN AN
IMPROPER WAY FOR TOO LONG IN
AFGHANISTAN.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE BEING
SLAUGHTERED BY DICTATORS AROUND
THE WORLD WHERE MASSIVE LOSS OF
LIVES ARE AT STAKE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE
UNITED STATES TO STEP UP AND
PROTECT THOSE PEOPLE.
YES, WE HAVE BUSINESS IN LIBYA.
WE HAVE A BUSINESS OF
PROTECTING MASS *** FROM
*** FROM HAPPENING ALL
AROUND THE WORLD.
WE NEED TO STOP THE
DESTABILIZATION OF REGIONS LIKE
WE HAVE A BUSINESS IN MAKING
SURE THAT THE PEACEFUL
RESOLUTIONS IN EGYPT AND IN
TUNISIA ARE NOT UNDERMINED.
WE HAVE BUSINESS OF MAKING SURE
THAT DICTATORS, LIKE ALI SALAH
IN YEMEN AND THE ONE IN SYRIA
ARE NOT EMBOLDEN AND THE SIGNAL
DOES NOT GO TO THEM THAT THEY
CAN CONTINUE TO WIPE OUT THEIR
POPULATION AND NOBODY CARES.
I BELIEVE IF I WAS IN THIS
CONGRESS WHEN RWANDA OR SERB OR
DARFUR WERE HELPING, I THINK
THE PEOPLE NEEDED PROTECTION
AND THE MOST POWERFUL NATION IN
THE WORLD SHOULD STAND BY WHILE
INNOCENT CHILDREN AND WOMEN ARE
BEING MOWED DOWN.
AND I HOPE TODAY THAT
COLLEAGUES WILL IN -- JOIN IN
THAT AND I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT
THING TO DO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SPEAKER, HOW
MUCH TIME IS REMAINING ON EACH
SIDE?
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA HAS
10 MINUTES REMAINING, AND THE
GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA HAS SIX
MINUTES REMAINING.
OK.
MR. SPEAKER, I'M PLEASED TO --
AUTOMATIC' PLEASED TO YIELD --
I'M PLEASED TO YIELD 90 SECOND
TO THE GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS,
MS. SHEILA JACKSON LEE.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR A MINUTE AND A
HALF.
I THANK THE
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER AND TO
THE DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS THAT
ARE ON THIS FLOOR.
WHAT A HECK OF A POSITION TO BE
IN, AND LET ME MAKE IT VERY
CLEAR THIS IS A SET OF
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT FRAMES
ITSELF AROUND THE CONSTITUTION,
THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION THAT
INDICATES THAT CONGRESS MUST BE
CONSULTED.
BUT I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF MY
ACTIONS THAT TOOK PLACE MONTHS
AGO OR MANY WEEKS AGO AS THE
CRISIS AND THE MURDEROUS ACTS
OF COLONEL GADDAFI BEGAN TO
SEIZE HIS PEOPLE AND WE WENT TO
THE LIBYAN EMBASSY TO ASK FOR
COLONEL GADDAFI TO STEP DOWN
AND WE THEN JOINED WITH THE
THEN AMBASSADOR IN HIS
COURAGEOUS ACTS.
COLONEL GADDAFI IS KNOWN TO
OPPRESS HIS PEOPLE, DENY
FREEDOM OF PRESS AND SPEECH AS
WELL AS ASSOCIATION TO TRAIN
DICTATORS IN OPPRESSION AND
INTELLIGENCE AND THE MURDEROUS
ACTS STILL GO ON.
BUT IT IS A CRISIS WHEN WE HAVE
AN ADMINISTRATION,
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS NOT SEEM
FIT TO UNDERTAKE THE
CONSULTATION THAT IS NECESSARY.
YET, I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD
FINISH THE TASK, AND IT IS
DIFFERENT FROM IRAQ AND IT IS
DIFFERENT FROM AFGHANISTAN.
WE HAVE A TIME CERTAIN, AND AS
WELL WE HAVE THE ARAB LEAGUE
THAT HAS ASKED US TO STAND WITH
THEM AGAINST THE OPPRESSION OF
ONE OF ITS MEMBERS.
THIS IS A DOOR OPENER TO SAY TO
THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE ASKED
TO BE WITH US, TO GO AGAINST
TERRORIST ACTS TO STAND FOR
SO THIS IS A DEVASTATING
POSITION TO PUT THE MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS IN, BUT WE MUST DO OUR
DUTY TODAY, AND I BELIEVE THAT
IT IS GOOD TO SAY THAT THE
HASTINGS AMENDMENT IS --
THE
GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I PREFER SIX
MONTH, AND I HOPE THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO --
THE
GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I'M
PLEASED TO YIELD A MINUTE AND A
HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MR. GARAMENDI.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR A MINUTE AND A
HALF.
MR. SPEAKER AND
MEMBERS, APPARENTLY THE HOUSE
HAS DEBATED FOR MORE THAN
ALMOST 40 YEARS NOW THE WAR
POWERS AGREEMENT OR WAR POWERS
LAW.
WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY IS
A WAY IN WHICH WE CAN EFFECT
THERE ARE FOUR REASONS.
FIRST, THERE IS A HUMANITARIAN
ISSUE HERE, AND THAT'S WHY WE
WENT INTO THIS IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
THE UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION
ON THE OBLIGATION TO PROTECT,
AND INDEED THERE WAS A THREAT.
SECONDLY, THIS PARTICULAR
INTERVENTION IS SUPPORTED BY
THE UNITED NATIONS, BY NATO, BY
THE ARAB LEAGUE AND THE MOST
UNUSUAL SITUATION ASKING FOR
SUPPORT OF THE EUROPEAN AND THE
UNITED STATES IN AN ARAB
COUNTRY.
FINALLY, WE MUST CONTINUE OUR
SUPPORT OF THE EFFORT, AND WE
MUST DO IT IN A VERY LIMITED
WAY.
THE RESOLUTION DOES THAT.
IT PROVIDES FOR A VERY LIMITED
SCOPE AND A LIMITED PERIOD OF
TIME, AND, THEREFORE, IT IS IN
ORDER AND IT APPROPRIATELY PUTS
THE CONGRESS, BOTH HOUSES, IF
IT PASSES THE SENATE, IN
SUPPORT OF THE OPERATION
THEREBY FULFILLING THE WAR
RESOLUTION.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
WHO SEEKS TIME?
THANK YOU,
MR. SPEAKER.
I'M PLEASED AND HONORED TO
YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY, MR.
SMITH, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE,
SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA, GLOBAL
AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I THANK THE
DISTINGUISHED CHAIRWOMAN FOR
YIELDING AND THANK HER FOR HER
LEADERSHIP ON HUMAN RIGHTS
LET ME JUST SAY, MR. SPEAKER, I
RISE IN OPPOSITION TO H.J.RES.
68.
YOU KNOW, WHEN THE U.S.
INTERVENTION IN LIBYA BEGAN
LAST MARCH I RAISED AND I WAS
AMONG MANY SEVERAL STILL
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR
INVOLVEMENT.
THEY INCLUDED QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE IDENTITY AND THE AIMS OF
THE REBELS, THE VARYING
PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENTS THAT
SEEMED TO SHIFT LIKE THE WIND,
THE LEVEL OF U.S. INVOLVEMENT,
THE POSSIBILITY OF GADDAFI
RETALIATING AGAINST AMERICAN
INTERESTS OUTSIDE LIBYA AND
WHETHER U.S. GROUND TROOPS MAY
BE REQUESTED AT SOME POINT,
THOUGH THE RESOLUTION SEEMS TO
CLEARLY SAY THAT THAT WOULD NOT
BE AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS.
IN THE COURSE IN THE DEBATE
ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONALITY AND
THE VIABILITY OF THE WAR POWERS
RESOLUTION, THESE QUESTIONS
THE PRESIDENT HAS REFUSED TO
SEEK CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL OF
HIS ACTION OR EVEN TO PROVIDE A
FULL EXPLANATION OF HIS
DECISIONS.
AND THE NATO CAMPAIGN
CONTINUES, NEW QUESTIONS ARISEN
OF NEW PARTICIPATION OF WHAT
NATO'S INVOLVEMENT IN LIBYA.
LET ME SAY A STATEMENT WAS MADE
A MOMENT AGO ABOUT KOSOVO AND
SOMEHOW THE REPUBLICAN
OPPOSITION TO KOSOVO WAS
POLITICAL.
INVOLVED IN THE BALKAN
SITUATION.
I VISITED THERE MANY TIMES.
VISITED WITH ANY LOHSE VICK,
THE *** -- WITH MILOSHIVIC, IN
CROATIA, TO THE ATTACKERS
COMING INTO SERBIA.
SO FRANKLY THE STATEMENT THAT
WAS MADE EARLIER I THINK IT DID
A DISSERVICE TO THOSE THAT WERE
NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THE KOSOVO
OPERATION.
THERE WAS NO MAN FOR THE KOSOVO
ALBANIAN.
IF MEMBERS MAY REMEMBER, THAT
LITERALLY PUSHED OUT INTO
MACEDONIA AND ELSEWHERE.
ESPECIALLY MACEDONIA, BECAUSE
THERE WAS NO PLAN WHEN ANY
LOHSE VITCH SENT IN THE GROUND
TROOPS AND KILLED THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE.
THE REVISION THIS WAS SOMEHOW A
POLITICAL CALCULATION FALLS
VERY, VERY FAR FROM THE TRUTH.
I ACTUALLY HELD HEARINGS DURING
IT AND STATED MY OPPOSITION
BASED ON PRINCIPLE AS DID OTHER
MEMBERS.
I WOULD HOPE THERE WOULD NOT BE
THAT LOOKBACK THAT DOES A
DISSERVICE TO REPUBLICAN
OPPOSITION.
WHO EXACTLY ARE WE BACKING IN
LIBYA?
WHAT IS THE JUSTIFICATION ON
INTERNATIONAL LAW?
IT IS THEREFORE DIRECTING BOTH
U.S. FOREIGN GOVERNMENTAL
ASSETS TO A REBEL ENTITY THAT
IS NOT DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE OF
THAT COUNTRY.
WE DON'T KNOW.
IN ADDITION, A SENIOR NATO
OFFICIAL TOLD CNN ON JUNE 9
THAT GADDAFI WAS A LEGITIMATE
TARGET OF THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN.
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS EXPRESSED AS
A NATO POSITION, ARE WE NOW TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION IS SANCTIONING
THE KILLING OF FOREIGN LEADERS,
AGAIN, PURSUANT TO WHAT
INTERNATIONAL CRITERIA OR LEGAL
JUSTIFICATION?
MR. SPEAKER, AGAIN, I CALL ON
MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE DOWN THIS
RESOLUTION THAT IS OFFERED IN
H.J.RES. 68.
AND I YIELD BACK TO THE
DISTINGUISHED THE GENTLELADY.
THE
WHO SEEKS TIME?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
YES, MR. SPEAKER,
I'M PLEASED TO YIELD A MINUTE
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK,
A MEMBER OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE, MR. MEEKS.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
TODAY I SAY THAT WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY.
THE CAMERA OF HISTORY IS
ROLLING.
IT'S WATCHING WHAT WE DO TODAY.
WE CAN AUTHORIZE THE PRESIDENT
TO CONTINUE THE LIMITED USE OF
THE UNITED STATES' SERVICES
WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH
NATO TODAY.
TODAY, WE CAN SHOW THAT WE'RE
UNITED WITH OUR ALLIES.
THINK ABOUT WHAT HISTORY WILL
HAVE 50 YEARS FROM NOW.
WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS
GOING TO MASSACRE HIS
INDIVIDUALS, AND BY US STEPPING
IN, WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH
OUR NATO ALLIES, WE ARE SAVING
THOUSANDS OF LIVES.
WHAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE?
HISTORICALLY IF WE ALLOWED THE
ANNIHILATION OF THE LIBYAN
PEOPLE?
LET'S STICK TOGETHER ON THIS.
LET'S LOOK AT HOW THIS -- HOW
WE'RE TOGETHER.
FROM ITS INCEPTION THIS HAS
BEEN AN INTERNATIONAL
INITIATIVE TO ENFORCE U.N.
RESOLUTION 1973 AND THE
RESPONSE OF THE REQUEST OF
LIBYA'S TRANSITIONAL NATIONAL
COUNCIL, THE GULF COOPERATION
COUNCIL AND THE ARAB LEAGUE.
PRESIDENT OBAMA DEPLOYED U.S.
ASSETS EARLY, SAID HE WILL
CONTINUE JUST WHAT WE HAVE OUR
SPECIAL ASSET AND THEN HAVE NO
TROOPS ON THE GROUND.
IT IS TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER.
THE
TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN HAS
EXPIRED.
DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA --
MR. SPEAKER, I'M
PLEASED TO YIELD A MINUTE OF
TIME TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VIRGINIA, MR. MORAN.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, WE WERE
ASKED TO COME INTO LIBYA BY THE
LIBYANS, BY THE ARAB LEAGUE, BY
THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL,
BY THE EUROPEAN UNION AND BY
THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY
COUNCIL.
TODAY WE ARE STANDING WITH
THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN FREEDOM,
IN HUMAN RIGHTS AND IN THE RULE
OF LAW.
BUT ALSO TODAY AS WE DEBATE
THIS ISSUE, MUAMMAR GADDAFI'S
FORCES CONTINUE THEIR MERCIFUL
ASSAULT ON COMBATANTS.
IN CITIES THROUGHOUT CENTRAL
THE LIBYAN TRANSITIONAL
NATIONAL COUNCIL, WHICH NEEDS
OUR SUPPORT, IS GROSSLY SHORT
OF WEAPONRY, MONEY, TRAINING,
BUT THEY ARE THE BOOTS ON THE
GROUND FIGHTING -- DYING TO
DISLODGE GADDAFI WHO IS A BAD
WE NEED TO BE ON THE OTHER
SIDE, NOT GIVING A COMFORT TO
GADDAFI SO THAT HE CAN THANK US
FOR THE RESOLUTION AND THIS
VOTE.
WE NEED TO MAKE CLEAR, WE DON'T
SUPPORT HIM.
WE DO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO ARE
FIGHTING FOR THE SAME VALUES
THAT DETYPE OUR COUNTRY.
30 YEARS AGO PEOPLE WERE KILLED
JUST THIS WEEK.
THE CUTOFF OF OPERATION AND
FUNDING FOR THE NATO OPERATION
IS TO ASIDE WITH GADDAFI
AGAINST THE FORCES WHO ARE
FIGHTING FOR THOSE VALUES WHICH
DEFINE US.
YOU KNOW, THE IDEA WE HAVEN'T
BEEN -- THIS HASN'T BEEN
EXPLAINED SUFFICIENTLY BY THE
PRESIDENT, WE HAVE MINDS OF OUR
OWN.
WE KNOW THE FACTS.
WE CAN MAKE A JUDGMENT, THE
RIGHT JUDGMENT IS TO SIDE WITH
THE PRESIDENT AND TO CONTINUE
THIS UNTIL AMERICA SHOWS THAT
IT'S TRUE TO ITS OWN VALUES AND
PRINCIPLES.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
COULD YOU PROVIDE US
THE AMOUNT OF TIME REMAINING?
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA HAS
THE GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA HAS
THREE MINUTES REMAINING.
I YIELD A MINUTE TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VERMONT IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
GENTLEMAN.
THERE ARE TWO ISSUES BEFORE
ONE IS THE REASSERTION OF ITS
RESPONSIBILITY UNDER ARTICLE 1
IN THE WAR POWERS ACT.
NUMBER TWO IS A DECISION ON THE
LIMITED USE OF FORCE FOR
HUMANITARIAN MISSION IN LIBYA.
THE HASTINGS RESOLUTION
ACCOMPLISHES BOTH.
IT REASSERTS OUR AUTHORITY UNDER
ARTICLE 1 AND THE WAR POWERS
ACT.
NUMBER TWO, IT SAYS, YES, WE DO
SUPPORT LIMITED INTERVENTION
WITH A ROLE FOR THE U.S. IN
SAVING LIVES IN LIBYA.
THAT MISSION IS NECESSARY TO
AVERT A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER.
TWO, THE MISSION HAS BROAD
INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT, INCLUDING
THREE, THE U.S. ROLE IS LIMITED
IN SCOPE.
NO BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
AND, FINALLY, WE ARE BY ACTING
ASSERTING OUR RESPONSIBILITY
UNDER THE WAR POWERS ACT IN OUR
-- AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY UNDER
ARTICLE 1.
I YIELD BACK.
WHO
SEEKS TIME?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA.
SIR, I RESERVE
THE RIGHT TO CLOSE, MR. SPEAKER.
SO I WILL HOLD UNTIL THE --
UNTIL THEY'RE DONE AND THEN I
WILL RESERVE MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
BEDROOM INTERIM IS THE
GENTLELADY SAYING SHE HAS NO
OTHER -- INTERIM INTERIM IS THE
GENTLELADY SAYING SHE HAS NO
OTHER --
IS THE GENTLELADY
SAYING SHE HAS NO OTHER
SPEAKERS?
WE HAVE MEMBERS WHO WANT TO
SPEAK WHO ARE NOT YET ON THE
FLOOR.
SO SORRY BUT
-- NOT MY PROBLEM.
ON WHOSE TIME IS
THIS DIALOGUE?
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA SEEK
TIME?
I THINK IN THIS CASE
I WILL YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS
I MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
FOR FOUR MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER --
THE
RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
MYSELF ONE MINUTE.
THE
MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, WE'RE
90 DAYS INTO THIS OPERATION AND
THE MAJORITY IS BRINGING UP THIS
RESOLUTION IN ORDER TO EMBARRASS
THE WHITE HOUSE.
LET'S JUST CALL IT FOR WHAT IT
IS.
THEY KNOW IT WILL FAIL.
THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO PLAY
GAMES WITH U.S. NATIONAL
SECURITY.
LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT'S
HAPPENING HERE.
THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
ALLOWED THIS RESOLUTION TO COME
TO THE FLOOR FOR ONE REASON AND
ONE REASON ONLY, THEY KNOW IT
WILL FAIL AND THEY THINK ITS
DEFEAT WILL BE A POLITICAL
DEFEAT FOR THE WHITE HOUSE.
IF THAT TYPE OF TRIFLING AND
TOYING WITH NATIONAL SECURITY
APPEALS TO THEM, SO BE IT.
MR. SPEAKER, I THINK OUR
COMMITMENTS TO NATO AND -- I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
THE GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA
RESERVES HER TIME.
DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA SEEK TIME?
THERE IS
ADDITIONAL TIME IF I COULD TELL
MY GOOD FRIEND.
IF THE GENTLEMAN WOULD YIELD,
THERE IS ADDITIONAL TIME ON THIS
RESOLUTION IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING
SO IF THERE ARE ANY FOLKS WHO
COME IN LATER, PERHAPS THEY
COULD SPEAK DURING THAT TIME.
IN THAT CASE --
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
ALL RIGHT.
SO I YIELD MYSELF THE REMAINDER
OF OUR TIME.
GENTLEMAN HAS THREE MINUTES
REMAINING.
MR. SPEAKER, I THINK
OUR COMMITMENTS TO NATO AND THE
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THAT CREATED
THE NATO OPERATION IN LIBYA ARE
TOO IMPORTANT TO BE EXPLOITED
FOR CYNICAL POLITICAL PURPOSES.
IN MY VIEW THE PERFECT
AUTHORIZATION WOULD HAVE BEEN A
SIX-MONTH AUTHORIZATION FOR A
LIMITED PURPOSE WITH A
LIMITATION ON THAT AUTHORIZATION
WITH RESPECT TO A POSITION THE
HOUSE HAS STOOD FOR THE ENTIRE
TIME, AS HAS THE PRESIDENT AND
THAT IS NO BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
BUT THE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T GIVE
THIS SIDE THE CHOICE OF THE
RESOLUTION FOR AUTHORIZATION,
THEY TOLD US WHAT THE RESOLUTION
FOR AUTHORIZATION WOULD BE AND
THAT'S A VERY UNFORTUNATE KIND
OF A SITUATION.
SO WE WILL GO THROUGH THIS
PROCESS AND PERHAPS AT THE END
OF THE DAY, AFTER THIS
RESOLUTION FAILS, WE WILL GET
ANOTHER LETTER TO THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, SENT TO THE
SPEAKER, THANKING US FROM
COLONEL GADDAFI FOR ONCE AGAIN
DEMONSTRATING THAT WE WANT TO
SEND A MESSAGE THAT HE IS GOING
TO PREVAIL IN THIS CONFLICT.
AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS WHAT DO WE
THINK THE DICTATOR OF SYRIA IS
GOING TO THINK?
QUITTING HE WILL HEAR THE
MESSAGE, THE WAY TO SURVIVE, THE
WAY TO HOLD ON FOR POWER IS FOR
HIM TO CONTINUE TO KILL HIS OWN
PEOPLE WITHOUT THE REST OF THE
WORLD DOING ANYTHING.
THERE ARE CRITICAL ALLIANCES AT
STAKE, THERE ARE CRITICAL
INTERESTS AT STAKE, THE NATIONAL
SECURITY QUESTION IS FAR BEYOND
SIMPLY WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN
IN LIBYA BUT IN ITS NEIGHBORS,
EGYPT AND TO YOU INITIALIA,
THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST --
TUNISIA, THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE
EAST AND THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE
WORLD, THE MESSAGE OF TRYING TO
SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO PULL THE
PLUG ON THIS PARTICULAR
OPERATION AND WE COULD SPEND
TIME TALKING ABOUT THE WAY THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS HANDLED IT
BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A CHOICE,
TO PULL THE PLUG ON THIS BABY OR
TO LET IT PLAY OUT IN A LIMITED
AND RESPONSIBLE FASHION TO
ACHIEVE OUR GOALS AND SEND A
MESSAGE THAT THE CIVILIZED WORLD
IS NOT GOING TO STAND FOR THIS
KIND OF
MR. BARROW:ITY AND BRUTALITY.
I URGE -- KIND OF BRUTALITY AND
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA.
THANK YOU SO
MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
TO WRAP UP ON OUR SIDE, I'M
PROUD AND PLEASED TO YIELD THE
REMAINING TIME, THREE MINUTES,
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARKANSAS,
MR. GRIFFIN, A MEMBER OF BOTH
THE COMMITTEES ON FOREIGN
AFFAIRS AND ARMED SERVICES.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARKANSAS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO HOUSE
JOINT RESOLUTION 68 WHICH
AUTHORIZES THE PRESIDENT TO
CONTINUE MILITARY OPERATIONS IN
LIBYA.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE POLICY
ARGUMENTS THAT I HAVE HEARD HERE
TODAY, BUT THE QUESTION FOR ME
IS, IS IT ILLEGAL OR NOT?
IF IT'S A QUESTION OF LAW, THEN
ALL OF THE ARGUMENTS ABOUT
MAKING THIS GROUP MAD OR NOT
BEING A GOOD ALLY, ETC., THOSE
ARE VERY PERSUASIVE, BUT THOSE
ARE NOT LEGAL ARGUMENTS.
THOSE DON'T CHANGE WHETHER THE
ACTIONS IN LIBYA ARE
CONSTITUTIONAL OR LEGAL.
THOSE ARE POLICY ARGUMENTS.
THE PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO BE IN
VIOLATION OF THE WAR POWERS
RESOLUTION WHICH REQUIRES
CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL FOR
MILITARY ACTION WITHIN 60 DAYS
OF THE INITIAL USE OF OUR ARMED
FORCES.
THAT DEADLINE EXPIRED LONG AGO.
THE PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO
INVOLVE THE U.S. MILITARY IN
THIS ILLEGAL CONFLICT AND HAS
CONTINUALLY IGNORED REQUESTS TO
GAIN CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL.
WHAT'S SO HARD, MR. PRESIDENT,
ABOUT COMING TO THE HOUSE AND
CONSULTING WITH THE CONGRESS?
WHAT'S SO HARD ABOUT THAT?
THE OTHER PRESIDENTS WHO MAY
HAVE THEIR DOUBTS ABOUT THE
CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE WAR
POWERS RESOLUTION HAVE STILL
GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS TO
RESPECT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
REPRESENTED BY THIS BODY.
REPORTEDLY THE PRESIDENT IGNORED
ADVICE FROM HIS TOP LAWYERS AT
THE PENTAGON AND THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT WHO SAID THAT HE NO
LONGER HAD THE LEGAL AUTHORITY
TO CONTINUE MILITARY ACTION
WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL
AUTHORIZATION.
FURTHERMORE, THIS IS NOT A LEGAL
ARGUMENT BUT I THINK IT'S
RELEVANT, WE'RE BROKE.
THE PRICE TAG OF THE MILITARY
ACTION IN LIBYA HAS ALREADY COST
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT OVER $750
MILLION.
THIS RESOLUTION WOULD AUTHORIZE
THE PRESIDENT TO CONTINUE
MILITARY ACTION IN LIBYA FOR UP
TO A YEAR.
THAT COULD RESULT IN BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS OF FUNDING BY THE
AMERICAN TAXPAYER THAT WE JUST
CAN'T AFFORD.
WE CANNOT SPEND PRECIOUS
TAXPAYER FUNDS TO SUPPORT THIS
MILITARY ACTION WHILE THE
PRESIDENT FLOUTS THE LAW AND
CONSTITUTION.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE CHAIR WILL REMIND THE
TO THE CHAIR.
THE GENTLELADY FROM --
I YIELD BACK
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HER TIME.
ALL TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE
IN OPPOSITION TO THE BILL AND
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE
IN OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL AND
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
THE PRESIDENT'S INITIAL
JUSTIFICATION FOR OUR MILITARY
INTERVENTION IN LIBYA WAS THAT
IT WAS NECESSARY TO PREVENT THE
MASSACRE OF LIBYAN CIVILIANS BY
GOVERNMENT FORCES IN BEN GAZZY
AND THAT THIS WOULD BE STRICTLY
A HUMANITARIAN MISSION.
AS I NOTED BACK IN MARCH,
DEPLOYING AMERICAN WARRIORS TO
PROTECT CIVILIANS FROM A BRUTAL
DICTATER IS A NOBLE CAUSE.
YET I ALSO EXPRESS MY
RESERVATIONS AT THE TIME BECAUSE
I FEARED THAT THE MISSION COULD
RESULT IN A PROTRACTED
STALEMATE.
ALTHOUGH THE PRESIDENT PROMISED
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT OUR
INVOLVEMENT WOULD BE LIMITED, A
MATTER OF WEEKS, NOT MONTHS, WE
FIND OURSELVES PAST THE
THREE-MONTH MARK WITH NO END IN
SIGHT.
THIS BILL WOULD AUTHORIZE
OPERATIONS FOR UP TO A YEAR.
WE'RE CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN A WAR
THAT IS VITAL TO OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY.
IN AFGHANISTAN WE'RE FIGHTING
EXTREMISTS WHO SHELTERED THE
TERRORIST ORGANIZATION THAT
KILLED 3,000 AMERICANS ON
SEPTEMBER 11, AND WOULD AGAIN
PROVIDE THEM WITH A SANCTUARY IF
GIVEN THE CHANCE.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF
CONSOLIDATING OUR VICTORY IN
IRAQ AND STILL HAVE 50,000
TROOPS THERE IN HARM'S WAY.
INDEED A CLEAR STRATEGIC VISION
IS REQUIRED TO MAKE ANY MILITARY
INTERVENTION SUCCESSFUL.
SINCE THIS OPERATION BEGAN, THE
CONNECTION BETWEEN STRATEGIC
ENDS AND OPERATIONAL MEANS HAS
BEEN LACKING.
CONSEQUENTLY UNLESS THE NATO
MISSION DEPARTS FROM ITS INITIAL
MANDATE, IT APPEARS THAT OUR
ONLY RECOURSE IS TO HOLD THAT
GADDAFI WILL VOLUNTARILY LEAVE
HIS COUNTRY.
I CANNOT SUPPORT A LONG-TERM
COMMITMENT OF U.S. FORCES TO
HOSTILITIES WHEN SUCCESS IS
BASED ON HOPE.
FURTHERMORE, THE PRESIDENT
FAILED TO SEEK CONGRESSIONAL
AUTHORIZATION FOR THIS OPERATION
ON THE FLIMSIEST OF LEGAL
RATIONALE.
IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THIS
BODY TO COVER HIS LAPS WITH A
BLANKET ALTOGETHER ZSH LAPSE
WITH A BLANKET AUTHORIZATION.
I THEREFORE -- LAPSE WITH A
BLANKET AUTHORIZATION.
I THEREFORE ENCOURAGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO AND I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I YIELD MYSELF THREE MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
RESOLUTION.
THIS IS CONGRESS EXERCISING ITS
AUTHORITY AS IS APPROPRIATE.
PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT CONGRESS
SHOULD DO THIS AND I JUST WISH
WE WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT
CONGRESS HAS A CERTAIN
RESPONSIBILITY IN THAT REGARD.
YES, THE PRESIDENT SHOULD HAVE
ASKED US BUT IT'S BEEN OVER
THREE MONTHS AND THIS HOUSE HAS
CHOSEN NOT TO ACT UNTIL NOW.
I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT WE
ARE, I THINK WE SHOULD AUTHORIZE
THIS MISSION IN LIBYA AND
STRONGLY SUPPORT THAT MISSION.
LIKE MOST AMERICANS, WHEN THIS
PEOPLE IN LIBYA STARTED RISING
UP AGAINST THEIR OPPRESSIVE
DICTATOR, I WAS VERY RELUCTANT
ABOUT THE IDEA OF U.S. MILITARY
INVOLVEMENT, AS I THINK WE
I THINK IN THE PAST WE HAVE BEEN
TOO OVERANXIOUS TO USE THE U.S.
MILITARY IN PLACES WHERE IT WAS
NOT A GOOD FIT.
WE NEED TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT
STRIKE A BALANCE.
ON THE ONE HAND, WHAT IS THE
POSITIVE IMPACT THAT OUR
AND ON THE OTHER HAND, WHAT ARE
THE RISKS OF THAT INVOLVEMENT?
AND I THINK THERE WAS A UNIQUE
SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES IN LIBYA
THAT MADE THIS MAKE SENSE.
COULD HAVE A VERY POSITIVE
IMPACT.
WE HAD INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT,
THE U.N., NATO, THE ARAB LEAGUE,
EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD WANTED
GADDAFI TO BE STOPPED FROM
SLAUGHTERING THE CIVILIANS WHO
WERE RIGHTFULLY STANDING UP AND
ASKING FOR THE BASIC RIGHTS THAT
WE TAKE FOR GRANTED IN THIS
COUNTRY.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT OUR
MILITARY, OUR MILITARY BUDGET IS
ROUGHLY EQUIVALENT TO THE ENTIRE
REST OF THE WORLD'S COMBINED.
THAT GIVES US A UNIQUE SET OF
CAPABILITIES.
THAT SET OF CAPABILITIES WAS
CRITICAL TO STOPPING GADDAFI
FROM CRUSHING, AGAIN, THE
LEGITIMATE DEMOCRATIC
ASPIRATIONS OF THE LIBYAN
PEOPLE.
IF WE HAD NOT ACTED THEY WOULD
BE CRUSHED, MANY MORE CIVILIANS
WOULD BE DEAD AND GADDAFI WOULD
BE BACK IN POWER.
WE CANNOT WALK AWAY FROM THAT
RESPONSIBILITY AND SAY, YES, WE
DON'T LIKE GADDAFI, WE WISH THE
PEOPLE THERE WOULD DO WELL, WE
SIMPLE LOW DON'T WANT TO
SUPPORT THE ACTION THAT IS
NECESSARY TO GIVE THEM THAT
OPPORTUNITY.
IN THIS CASE I THINK THE
REASON.
THE UNITED STATES IS IN A
POSITION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
AND STAND UP FOR PEOPLE WHO
WERE ASKING FOR LEGITIMATE
RIGHTS.
THE BROADER QUESTION IS, WHAT
DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE
UNITED STATES?
THAT MAY BE TRUE BUT TRUE IN A
LOT OF COUNTRIES.
THE REASON THIS IS SO IMPORTANT
IS BECAUSE OF THE BROADER
MOVEMENT THAT'S GOING ON, THE
SO-CALLED ARAB SPRING.
RISING UP, DEMANDING
REPRESENTATIVE RIGHTS.
THAT HAS AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT
THE GREATEST THREAT WE FACE
THEIR IDEOLOGY.
THAT IDEOLOGY AROSE IN PART
BECAUSE OF A WHOLE BUNCH OF
REPRESSIVE GOVERNMENTS ACROSS
THE MUSLIM WORLD THAT WEREN'T
PROVIDING FOR THEIR PEOPLE.
GOVERNMENTS, BY THE WAY, WHICH
THE UNITED STATES IN THE PAST
HAS SUPPORTED.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO
THE OPPOSITE, TO STAND UP FOR
MUSLIM PEOPLE.
LET ME TELL YOU IN THE HISTORY
OF THIS COUNTRY I DON'T THINK
WE'VE EVER GOTTEN AS MUCH
POSITIVE PRESS IN THE MUSLIM TV
STATIONS AND MUSLIM MEDIA AS WE
GOT FOR STANDING UP TO GADDAFI.
THIS HAS BEEN ENORMOUSLY
HELPFUL TO US IN THAT BROADER
IDEOLOGICAL EFFORT.
WE HAVE NATIONAL SECURITY
INTERESTS FOR STANDING UP.
NOW AS A HOUSE I DON'T WANT TO
STAND UP AND SAY WE ARE GOING
TO BACK DOWN FROM THAT
COMMITMENT THAT WE MADE.
MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, IF WE
DEFEAT THIS RESOLUTION AND PASS
THE ROONEY RESOLUTION, WE WILL
STOP THE MISSION IN LIBYA AND
EMPOWER MUAMMAR GADOOFY,
SOMETHING I KNOW NOBODY --
NOBODY WANTS TO DO.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA, MR.
BURTON.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FROM -- I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
I HEARD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SAY,
WELL, THE CONSTITUTION DOES
GIVE THE PRESIDENT LATITUDE,
BUT DURING THE NIXON
ADMINISTRATION, CONGRESS PASSED
THE WAR POWERS ACT.
AND THEN WHEN THE PRESIDENT
VETOED IT, CONGRESS OVERRODE
HIS VETO, AND SO THE WAR POWERS
ACT BECAME LAW.
NOW, WHETHER OR NOT YOU BELIEVE
IT'S CONSTITUTIONAL, IT HAS
NEVER BEEN TESTED IN THE
COURTS.
AND SO IT'S THE LAW.
AND THE LAW SAYS, AS WELL AS
THE CONSTITUTION -- AT LEAST
THIS IS WHAT MOST PEOPLE WHO
LOOKED AT THE CONSTITUTION
BELIEVES IS WHAT IT STANDS FOR
-- THE CONSTITUTION AND THE WAR
POWERS ACT SAYS THE PRESIDENT
CANNOT DO WHAT HE DID WITHOUT
THE SUPPORT AND APPROVAL OF
CONGRESS.
NOW, HE'S GOTTEN US INTO THE
WAR IN LIBYA, AND IT IS IN
EFFECT OUR WAR.
PEOPLE SAY, WELL, NO, IT'S
NATO.
WELL, WE ARE PROVIDING OVER
8,000 OF THE MILITARY PERSONNEL
ON THE SHIPS AND IN THE AIR.
THE MAJORITY FLIGHTS TAKING
PLACE WHERE THEY ARE DOING THE
BOMBING ARE DONE BY OUR AIRMEN
AND OUR AIRCRAFT.
OVER 90% OF THE MISSILES THAT
ARE BEING USED AT OVER $1
MILLION PER COPY ARE AMERICAN
MISSILES.
AND THIS IS GOING TO COST
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
IF THIS WERE TO PASS AND WE
WERE TO STAY THERE FOR OVER A
YEAR, YOU COULD COUNT ON IT
COSTING $2 BILLION OR $3
BILLION.
NOW MY COLLEAGUE FROM ARKANSAS
A FEW MOMENTS AGO TALKED ABOUT
US BEING BROKE.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW IF
CONGRESS DOESN'T WE'RE $1.4
TRILLION, $1.5 TRILLION SHORT
THIS YEAR AND WE'RE $14
TRILLION IN DEBT.
WE'RE PRINTING MONEY THAT OUR
KIDS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL
WITH BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO
THE ROAD.
SOME OF US WILL PAY FOR IT IF
WE LIVE LONG ENOUGH.
CERTAINLY OUR KIDS WILL HAVE TO
PAY FOR THE DEBT.
SO WE'RE ADDING TO THE DEBT BY
GOING INTO A WAR WE SHOULDN'T
BE IN AND WITHOUT THE APPROVAL
OF THE CONGRESS IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE WAR POWERS ACT OF THE
CONSTITUTION.
NOW, MY BIG CONCERN IS -- AND
I'M GOING TO TALK ON THE OTHER
BILL THAT'S COMING UP LATER ON
-- MY BIG CONCERN IS NOT JUST
LIBYA.
MY BIG CONCERN IS THIS
PRESIDENT, UNLESS WE SEND A
VERY STRONG MESSAGE TO HIM, MAY
TAKE US INTO SYRIA.
THERE'S HUMANITARIAN PROBLEMS
IN SYRIA RIGHT NOW, AND THE
REASON THEY WENT INTO LIBYA
THEY SAID WAS BECAUSE OF THE
HUMANITARIAN PROBLEMS.
HE TALKED TO THE FRENCH, THE
ENGLISH, THE NATO, UNITED
NATIONS AND THE ARAB LEAGUE FOR
ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE WE WENT
INTO LIBYA, BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE
TIME TO TALK TO THE CONGRESS
WHO APPROPRIATES THE MONEY AND
AUTHORIZES THIS STUFF.
HE'S THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF
ONCE WE GO TO WAR, BUT HE NEEDS
THE AUTHORITY FROM CONGRESS TO
GO INTO IT AND HE DIDN'T DO IT.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF WARS OF
OPPORTUNITY.
THE PRESIDENT COULD GO INTO
SYRIA.
KEY GO TO THE IVORY COAST.
MAY I HAVE ONE MORE MINUTE?
I YIELD THE
GENTLEMAN AN ADDITIONAL MINUTE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THERE ARE A LOT OF
PLACES TO GO TO WAR IF WE
CHOOSE TO DO IT.
THERE ARE HUMANITARIAN PROBLEMS
AROUND THE WAR, BUT UNLESS IT'S
A THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES
OR AN ATTACK TO THE UNITED
STATES, THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT
HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT
HE DID WITHOUT THE SUPPORT AND
APPROVAL OF CONGRESS.
PRESIDENT BUSH CAME TO CONGRESS
BEFORE HE WENT INTO IRAQ.
PRESIDENT BUSH CAME TO CONGRESS
BEFORE HE WENT INTO
AND THAT'S AS IT SHOULD BE.
AND THIS PRESIDENT SHOULD NOT
OVERSTEP HIS BOUNDARIES.
AND WHAT I WISH WE WOULD DO
WHICH WOULD EXCEED THE
LEGISLATION WE'RE GOING TO BE
TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS TO PASS
LEGISLATION TO CUT OFF ALL
FUNDS FOR LIBYA.
NOW -- I KNOW IT WOULD NOT PASS
THE SENATE.
IT WOULD SEND A SIGNAL TO THE
PRESIDENT AND THE WHITE HOUSE
THAT WE WON'T ALLOW HIM TO GO
INTO WAR WITHOUT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE AND WITHOUT THE APPROVAL
OF CONGRESS.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I NOW YIELD THREE MINUTES TO
THE DISTINGUISHED MINORITY
WHIP, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MARYLAND, MR. HOYER.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER DELUDES
HIMSELF AND HE'S MY FRIEND, IF
HE THINKS THE MESSAGE WE SEND
TODAY GOES ONLY TO THE
PRESIDENT.
THE MESSAGE WILL GO TO ALL OVER
THE WORLD.
GADDAFI.
THE MESSAGE WILL GO TO OUR NATO
THE MESSAGE WILL GO TO EVERY
NATION OF THE WORLD THAT
AMERICA DOES NOT KEEP FAITH
WITH HIS ALLIES.
AMERICA MUST LEAD.
WE MUST NOT EQUIVOCATE.
SUCH A COURSE WOULD ENCOURAGE
THE ENEMIES OF PEACE, THE
BULLIES OF THE WORLD, PEOPLE
AROUND THE WORLD LOOK TO OUR
COUNTRY'S STRENGTH IN THEIR
STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY AND
BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS.
AS IT HAPPENS, I SAID THAT IN
1999 WHEN CLINTON SENT TROOPS
TO STOP THE GENOCIDE IN BOSNIA
AND HE DID SO, AND THE
AUTHORIZATION LOST ON THIS
FLOOR SHAMEFULLY 213-213.
ONE OF THE DARKEST DAYS I HAVE
SERVED IN THIS INSTITUTION.
LET US NOT REPEAT THAT MISTAKE.
LET US NOT REPEAT THAT MESSAGE
TO OUR NATO ALLIES, TO OUR
EUROPEAN ALLIES, TO ALL THE
WORLD THAT AMERICA CANNOT BE
COUNTED ON.
AT THE SAME TIME CONGRESS WAS
VOTING TO UNDERMINE THEIR
MISSION AS THEY FLEW TO KOSOVO.
IN RECENT MONTHS PEOPLE ACROSS
THE MIDDLE EAST HAVE BRAVELY
STOOD TO DEMAND THAT THEIR
GOVERNMENT RESPECT THEIR
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS.
I HAVE STOOD WITH THE GENTLEMAN
FROM INDIANA ON BEHALF OF HUMAN
RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD.
THE LIBYAN PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
SUBJECT TO THE DICTATORSHIP OF
MUAMMAR GADDAFI HAS MORE BLOOD
ON HIS HANDS OF AMERICAN BLOODS
ON HIS HANDS THAN ANY OTHER
THE LAST THREE DECADES.
WE'RE AMONG THOSE WHO INSISTED
THAT ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH.
GADDAFI RESPONDED BY UNLEASHING
WIDESPREAD VIOLENCE AND
THREATENING COUNTLESS LIVES,
PUBLICLY PROMISING TO GO DOOR
TO DOOR AND KILL THOSE WHO
STOOD AGAINST HIM.
IN RESPONSE TO THIS THREAT
AGAINST GADDAFI AGAINST THOSE
CIVILIAN PEOPLE, THE EUROPEAN
UNION, THE ARAB LEAGUE, UNITED
NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL AND A
UNANIMOUS NATO CALLED FOR
ACTION TO PROTECT LIBYAN
CIVILIANS.
THE UNITED STATES IS
PARTICIPATING IN THIS ACTION
BOTH IN ORDER TO PREVENT BRUTAL
ATTACKS AGAINST CIVILIANS AND
IN ORDER TO STAND BY OUR
ALLIES.
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS MADE CLEAR
FROM THE BEGINNING THAT OUR
LEADING ROLE IN LIBYA.
WE CAN'T DO IT ALL, BUT THAT
DOES NOT MEAN WE CAN'T SUPPORT
THOSE WHO CHOOSE AND TAKE THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADING.
NATO HAS DONE THAT AND TO THIS
POINT THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST
GADDAFI HAS PROVEN SUCCESSFUL.
HIS EXPORTS OF OIL HAVE CEASED.
HE'S RUNNING SHORT ON FUNDS.
CABINET AND MILITARY OFFICIALS
CONTINUE TO -- FROM HIS REGIME.
CHINA HAS JUST HOSTED THE
OPPOSITION IN CHINA AND THEY
CONTROL EASTERN LIBYA AND IS
MAKING PROGRESS IN THE WEST.
I BELIEVE THAT THE WRONG
DECISION TODAY WILL
SIGNIFICANTLY COMPROMISE THAT
PROGRESS.
GADDAFI WROTE US A LETTER IN
THE LAST DEBATE SOME WEEKS AGO
AND THAAD THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES FOR ITS DEBATE
-- AND THANKED THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES FOR ITS DEBATE.
IS THAT THE MESSAGE WE WANT TO
SEND TO GADDAFI?
I THINK NOT.
IT WOULD STOP THE GROWING
MOVEMENTS OF DEMOCRATIZATION
ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST AND
ACROSS THE WORLD AND IT WOULD
SEVERELY UNDERMINE OUR NATO
ALLIANCE AS WE ALL KNOW.
IF WE WANT OUR ALLIES TO STAND
BY US IN OUR TIME OF NEED IN
AFGHANISTAN WE HAVE TO STAND BY
THEM IN PLACES LIKE LIBYA.
WE'RE EITHER IN AN ALLIANCE OR
WE'RE NOT.
OBAMA COULD AND SHOULD HAVE
DONE A BETTER JOB OF CONSULTING
WITH CONGRESS AT THE OUTSET OF
HOSTILITIES, AND I DO BELIEVE
WE ARE INVOLVED IN HOS --
HOSTILITIES.
BUT I BELIEVE WE MUST, WE MUST
AS A FAITHFUL ALLY AND DEFENDER
OF FREEDOM DEFEAT THE ROONEY
RESOLUTION AND SUPPORT THE
HASTINGS RESOLUTION.
AMERICA OUGHT TO DO NO LESS,
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD 1 1/2 MINUTES TO MY
FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, A MEMBER
OF THE COMMITTEE ON ARMED
SERVICES, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
FLORIDA, MR. WEST.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR 1 1/2 MINUTES.
I THANK YOU FOR
YIELDING.
THE WAR POWERS ACT OF 1973
STATES THE PRESIDENT CAN SEND
U.S. ARMED FORCES INTO ACTION
ABROAD ONLY BY AUTHORIZATION OF
CONGRESS OR IN CASE OF A
NATIONAL EMERGENCY CREATED BY
AN ATTACK UPON THE UNITED
STATES, ITS TERRITORIES OR
POSSESSIONS OR ITS ARMED
FORCES.
SO AS WE LOOK AT THE MISSION OR
THE PERCEIVED MISSION THAT WE
HAVE IN LIBYA, IT DOES NOT EVEN
MEET THIS CRITERIA.
I STAND HERE TODAY AS SOMEONE
WHO HAS BEEN SET FORTH ON THESE
SHORES IN THE 22 YEARS THAT I
SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES
ARMY, I STAND HERE AS THE SON
OF A MAN WHO LEFT THESE SHORES
TO GO DEFEND THIS GREAT COUNTRY
IN WORLD WAR II.
BROTHER OF A MAN WHO LEFT THESE
SHORES TO GO DEFEND THIS
COUNTRY AND FIGHT IN VIETNAM.
AND I STAND HERE TODAY AS THE
NEPHEW OF A YOUNG MAN, A
CAPTAIN WHO HAS ALREADY DONE
TWO TOURS OF DUTY IN
AFGHANISTAN.
MANY OF MY FRIENDS HAVE CALLED
ME.
SOME CALL ME AS COLONEL.
SOME CALL ME AS ALLEN AND SAY,
WE NEED YOU TO DO ONE SIMPLE
THING.
UNDERSTAND THAT THE OATH THEY
TAKE IS TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND
THE CONSTITUTION, TO SUPPORT
AND DEFEND THE LAWS OF THIS
COUNTRY.
THEY NEED US TO STAND UP AND BE
THE GUARDIANS OF THE LAWS OF
THIS COUNTRY.
JUST BEFORE I CAME HERE TODAY,
I PROMOTED JERRY LEE STERN TO
BE A MAJOR AND I READ HIM THAT
OATH OF OFFICE THAT HE WOULD
GREATLY TAKE WHAT WE MUST DO
NOW AS THIS BODY, AS
LEGISLATORS OF THIS GREAT
NATION IS UPHOLD THE LAWS AND
NOT SEND OUR MEN AND WOMEN INTO
UNDEFINED AND UNSPECIFIED
MISSION.
THEY WANT TO FIGHT.
THEY WANT TO STAND UP FOR US.
LET'S DO THE RIGHT THING BY
THEM, AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE, MR.
COHEN.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME.
I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THE
HASTINGS RESOLUTION AND AGAINST
THE ROONEY RESOLUTION FOR ONE
PERSON IN PARTICULAR.
THREE WORDS.
JANE ANN MORGAN.
A HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND OF MINE IN
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, WHO WAS
ON PAN AM FLIGHT 103.
SHE AND 177 OTHER AMERICANS
LOST THEIR LIVES 23 YEARS AGO
GADDAFI WAS OSAMA BIN LADEN
BEFORE THERE WAS OSAMA BIN
LADEN.
AND WE CANNOT STOP UNTIL HE IS
OUT OF POWER AND THE 178
AMERICANS WHO DIED AND THE
SOLDIERS WHO DIED IN THE BERLIN
DISCOS'S LIVES ARE REMEMBERED.
I SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION AND
VOTE IN THINKING OF JANE ANN
MORGAN TODAY.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
JUST FOR THE
RECORD, MR. SPEAKER, THE
ORIGINAL MISSION WAS NOT TO GET
GADDAFI.
THE ORIGINAL MISSION, AS
EXPLAINED BY THE PRESIDENT, WAS
TO HELP FOR HUMANITARIAN
PURPOSES THOSE CIVILIANS THAT
GADDAFI WAS THREATENING.
AT THIS TIME, MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO MY FRIEND
AND COLLEAGUE, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM OHIO, MR. KUCINICH.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
I WANT TO THANK
THE GENTLEMAN AND ASSOCIATE
MYSELF WITH HIS REMARKS RIGHT
NOW.
WE WERE TOLD THIS IS ABOUT
PROTECTING CIVILIANS.
THIS HAS BECOME A COVER FOR
REGIME CHANGE.
JUST BECAUSE WE CAN CHANGE A
REGIME WITH MILITARY POWER
DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULD DO IT AND
USING MILITARY ACTION DOESN'T
MEAN THAT YOU'RE GOING TO
ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES THAT
MAYBE YOU HAVEN'T EVEN CLEARLY
DEFINED.
FURTHERMORE, IF OUR ALLIES MAKE
A MISTAKE, DO WE FOLLOW THEM?
IF OUR ALLIES ARE GOING OUT OF
THE WAR, WHY SHOULD WE GO IN?
RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE CHINA'S
FOREIGN MINISTER SAYING, WE HOPE
THE TWO PARTIES IN THE CONFLICT
COUNTRY AND THE PEOPLE'S
INTERESTS AND ERNESTLY CONSIDER
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S
RELEVANT RESOLUTION PLANS,
QUICKLY CEASE HOSTILITIES AND
RESOLVE THE CRISIS THROUGH
POLITICAL CHALLENGES.
THE OUTGOING HEAD OF THE ARAB
LEAGUE SAID THIS TWO DAYS AGO,
NOW IS THE TIME TO DO WHATEVER
YOU CAN TO REACH A POLITICAL
SOLUTION.
THAT HAS TO START WITH A GENUINE
SUPERVISION.
THE PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA
SAID A FEW DAYS AGO THAT THIS
ABOUT REGIME CHANGE, POLITICAL
ASSASSINATION AND FOREIGN
MILITARY OCCUPATION.
VOTE AGAINST THIS RESOLUTION.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
I THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.
SHERMAN.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
I HAVE SAID THAT I
WOULD VOTE FOR A RESOLUTION
GRANTING AUTHORITY TO THE
PRESIDENT IF IT WAS
APPROPRIATELY LIMITED IN
CONDITIONS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CONDITIONS
THAT REQUIRE THE BENGHAZI
GOVERNMENT TO REMOVE FROM THEIR
MIDST THE AL QAEDA FIGHTERS AND
THE ISLAMIC LIBYAN FIGHTERS
GROUP.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE
CONDITIONS THAT WE USE THE
GADDAFI MONEY THAT WE SEIZED,
SOME $30 BILLION, RATHER THAN
TAXPAYER MONEY.
BUT PUT THOSE CONDITIONS ASIDE.
THE ONE THING WE ALMOST ALL
AGREE ON IS THAT WE WANT TO --
THAT WE WOULD WANT TO LIMIT THIS
TO AIR FORCES AND PERHAPS A
GROUND RESCUE MISSION IF
NECESSARY.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS RESOLUTION
DOES.
SECTION 1 GRANTS AUTHORITY TO
THE PRESIDENT TO DO WHATEVER HE
DECIDES TO DO INCLUDING ARMOR
DIVISIONS ON THE GROUND IN
SUPPORT OF THE NATO MISSION.
DON'T BE FOOLED BY SECTION 2
WHICH PROVIDES THE PRESIDENT
WITH NONBINDING, UNSOLICITED
ADVICE THAT WE THINK THAT WE
SHOULD LIMIT OUR GROUND
OPERATIONS TO RESCUE MISSIONS
AND DIPLOMATIC SECURITY.
THIS IS A GRANT OF AUTHORITY TO
THE PRESIDENT TO PUT ARMORED
DIVISIONS ON THE GROUND IF
THAT'S WHAT HE CHOOSES TO DO.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I WILL YIELD MY FINAL MINUTE IN
CONSISTENT WITH THE POLICY IN
HERE IT SAYS CONGRESS DOES NOT
SUPPORT DEPLOYING, ESTABLISHING
OR MAINTAINING THE PRESENCE OF
MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES
ARMED FORCES ON THE GROUPPED IN
LIBYA.
THE RESOLUTION -- GROUND IN
LIBYA.
IT CLEARLY PROHIBITS GROUND
WITH THAT I YIELD MY FINAL
MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
IOWA, MR. KING.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN
FOR YIELDING.
AND I WOULD START OUT FIRST TO
ASSOCIATE MYSELF WITH THE
REMARKS OF THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MARYLAND, MR. HOYER, WHO I THINK
LAID THIS OUT CLEARLY.
THIS IS A MESSAGE THAT GOES
GLOBALLY, THIS IS A DESTINY
MESSAGE.
THE SPEAKER OF THIS HOUSE
UNDERSTANDS HIS ROLE, HE
UNDERSTANDS THAT ALL OF AMERICA
IS WATCHING US TODAY AND EVEN
THOUGH IF I'D HAD A VOTE I WOULD
HAVE SAID NO, DON'T GO INTO
LIBYA, IF I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
TO AMEND THIS RESOLUTION I WOULD
SAY, LET'S EXTEND THE
AUTHORIZATION -- OR LET'S LIMIT
THE AUTHORIZATION TO A SHORTER
PERIOD OF TIME SO THAT THE
PRESIDENT CAN COME DO WHAT HE
SHOULD DO.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE
SCORES OF AMERICANS IN THEIR
GRAVES TODAY BECAUSE THIS
CONGRESS SENT THE WRONG MESSAGE
IN SEVERAL CONFLICTS THAT
ENCOURAGED OUR ENEMY, THE OBJECT
OF WAR IS TO DESTROY THE
MINUTE'S WILL AND ABILITY TO
CONDUCT WAR.
AND I WOULD SHORTEN THAT UP TO
SAY, IF YOU CAN DESTROY THEIR
WILL IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT
THEIR ABILITY IS, YOU'VE TAKEN
THEIR ABILITY WITH IT.
BUT THIS MESSAGE, IT ENCOURAGES
OUR ENEMY, THIS RESOLUTION SAYS
THAT CONGRESS STANDS WITH THE
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY OF THE
PRESIDENT TO BE COMMANDER IN
POLICY.
WE SHOULD CONDUCT OUR
DISAGREEMENT WITH THE PRESIDENT
DOMESTICALLY, NOT IN OUR FOREIGN
POLICY AND NOT BY LIMITING AN
ACTIVITY THAT COULD ABROGATE OUR
NATO TREATY.
I APPRECIATE THE GENTLEMAN
YIELDING AND I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MIGHT I ASK HOW MUCH
TIME IS REMAINING?
THE
GENTLEMAN HAS ONE MINUTE
REMAINING AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WASHINGTON'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MR. SPEAKER, I AGAIN
URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO OPPOSE
THIS AMENDMENT AND I YIELD BACK
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION
238, THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IS
THE QUESTION IS ON ENGROSSMENT
RESOLUTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THIRD READING.
AUTHORIZING THE LIMITED USE OF
THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES
IN SUPPORT OF THE NATO MISSION
IN LIBYA.
THE
QUESTION IS ON PASSAGE OF THE
JOINT RESOLUTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
NOES HAVE IT.
MR. SPEAKER, ON THAT
I REQUEST A RECORDED VOTE.
THE
GENTLEMAN REQUESTS A RECORDED
VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING
THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS
WILL RISE AND REMAIN STANDING
UNTIL COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
THIS WILL BE A 15-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON THIS
VOTE THE YEAS ARE 123, THE NAYS
NOT PASSED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE TABLE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO HAVE MY NAME REMOVED
AS A CO-SPONSOR OF HOUSE JOINT
RESOLUTION 59.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.