Ms. RUSH. Mr. Schiff votes no. Ms. WATSON. Yes. Ms. RUSH. Ms. Watson votes yes. Chairman HYDE. No. Ms. RUSH. Mr. Hyde votes no. Ms. RUSH. Mr. Burton votes no. Chairman HYDE. Have all voted who wish? If so, the Clerk will announce the roll, the vote. Ms. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, on this vote there are 11 ayes and 34 noes. Chairman HYDE. And the amendments are not agreed to. The gentleman from Texas, Mr. Paul, do you have an amendment? Mr. PAUL. I have an amendment, thank you. Chairman HYDE. The Clerk will report the amendment of Mr. Paul. [The information referred to follows:] AMENDMENT TO H. J. RES. OFFERED BY MR. PAUL H.L.C. Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the following: "That pursuant to article I, section 8 of the United States Constitution, a state of war is declared to exist between the United States and the Government of Iraq and the President is hereby authorized and directed to employ the United States Armed Forces to carry on war against the Government of Iraq and to bring the conflict to a successful conclusion.". AMENDMENT TO H. J. RES. OFFERED BY MR. PAUL H.L.C. Amend the title so as to read: "Joint Resolution de claring a state of war between the United States and the Government of Iraq.". Ms. RUSH. Amendment offered by Mr. Paul: Strike all after the Resolving clause and insert the following: Mr. PAUL. I ask unanimous consent that it be considered as read and that the three amendments be considered as one. Chairman HYDE. Without objection, so ordered. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes. Mr. PAUL. Five or ten? Chairman HYDE. I guess 10. I tried to get away with something. Mr. PAUL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this is a substitute amendment and it is a simple, clear-cut, straightforward, front-door declaration of war. No back door to war, it is the front door. I am depending on you, Mr. Chairman, to make sure it doesn't pass. Chairman HYDE. A very wise move. Mr. LANTOS. You may count on me, too. Mr. PAUL. Mr. Chairman, I will be voting with you and the Administration on this bill, on this particular substitute. But nevertheless, I consider what I am doing here very important and not frivolous, because this is a declaration of war. As I mentioned before, in the resolution that we have before us, we never mention war. We never mention article I, section 8. We only talk about transferring the power and the authority to the President to wage war when he pleases. I consider that unconstitutional. Of course, we cite the U.N. 25 times as back-up evidence for what we are doing, so I think it is appropriate for us to think about our oath of office and the Constitution, what America is all about. Because, quite frankly, I think we have suffered tremendously over the last 50 or 60 years, since World War II, since we have rejected this process, because we don't win wars but men die. One hundred thousand men have died in that period of time, and many hundreds of thousands wounded, and many ignored. The Persian Gulf syndrome ignored, yet over 100,000 may be suffering from that. I see this as very important that we should be up front with the American people, because, if not, we can well slip into war once again. And that, to me, is not what we are supposed to be doing. We are supposed to be very up-front in doing this as we have been obligated to do. I would like to read a quote from a former President of a few years back. He had something to do with the Constitution. He speaks for that time. Of course, most people believe today that the Constitution is a living, ever-changing document, that the truth is not everlasting and that the founders are irrelevant. But we still have the law on the book. We haven't changed the law. And this quote emphasizes how they looked at foreign policy and the separation of powers, because at the time of our Revolution they had firsthand experience of what happened in Europe when the King or one leader has the authority and the power to go to war. So it was strongly emphasized by those who were writing the Constitution of where this war power would reside. It was put into the legislative branch of government, which was closest to the people. That is very important, because our failure to win wars is one of the strongest motivations on my part to address this subject. Quite frankly, I believe that the Persian Gulf War, one, never ended. We are just dealing with one more segment of a war that 82-194 D-5 |