03 October 2002
U.S. House Committee Approves Use of Force Resolution Against Iraq
(Measure will be debated in House of Representatives October 9-10) (810) By Merle D. Kellerhals, Jr. Washington File Staff Writer Washington -- The U.S. House International Relations Committee approved a resolution October 3 that gives President Bush broad congressional authority to use military force against Iraq when he considers it necessary and appropriate. The committee approved the resolution Bush sought by a vote of 31 to 11 following two days of debate and consideration of numerous amendments to the measure. The compromise measure -- which was agreed to by Bush and congressional leaders after several weeks of intense negotiations -- now goes to the full House of Representatives for consideration. The Senate and House of Representatives are scheduled to begin debate on the use of force resolution beginning the week of October 7. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican, said he expects debate on the resolution to begin on October 8 and to be voted on by October 9 or 10. The measure -- titled the "Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq" -- specifically authorizes the president "to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq." It also gives Bush authority to act with military force "to enforce all relevant United Nations Security Resolutions regarding Iraq." House Committee Chairman Henry Hyde, a Republican of Illinois, made it clear during committee debate before a vote was taken on the resolution that it was not a formal declaration of war. "We have no choice but to act as a sovereign country prepared to defend ourselves, with our friends and allies if possible, but alone if necessary," Hyde said. The resolution requires Bush to report to Congress before any military strike, but if it is not feasible, then to report within 48 hours after operations begin that diplomatic and other peaceful means alone are inadequate to protect U.S. national security from Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. The other means include a determination that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is not going to comply with all relevant United Nations' resolutions. The resolution also requires Bush to report regularly to Congress every 60 days on operations in Iraq. And it establishes that the resolution approved by Congress gives Bush specific constitutional authority in conformance with the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which stipulates specific reporting requirements to Congress when military force is used. It also gives Bush authority to act with or without action from the United Nations. The ranking Democratic member of the House committee, Representative Tom Lantos of California, said the threat of U.S. military force is essential "to prevent Saddam Hussein from making a mockery of the United States, the United Nations, and entire international community. If we appease Saddam Hussein now, we will stand humiliated both before history and before humanity." However, New York Democratic Representative Gary Ackerman said he continues "to have grave concerns about the administration's complete failure to explain how an unsupported war in Iraq will advance international cooperation in the war on terror." An identical version of the Bush administration-House compromise resolution was introduced in the U.S. Senate October 2 by Senators John Warner, a Republican of Virginia; John McCain, a Republican of Arizona; Joseph Lieberman, a Democrat of Connecticut; and Evan Bayh, a Democrat of Indiana. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat, formally proposed his own Iraqi resolution October 3 that aims to limit U.S. military intervention in Iraq until after the UN passes a resolution authorizing the use of force. Levin said it is possible for Congress to pass his resolution and the measure proposed by the Bush administration, saying "there's no inconsistency between [the president's] resolution and my resolution." Mississippi Senator Trent Lott, the Senate Republican minority leader, said he expects Congress to give the president the authority he wants to "set in motion the beginning of the end of Saddam Hussein." Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph Biden, a Delaware Democrat, and ranking committee Republican Richard Lugar of Indiana had planned to introduce their own version of the Iraqi use-of-force resolution before the Foreign Relations Committee, which would have placed more emphasis on a UN role and made disarmament the only reason for conducting operations against Iraq. However, Biden said October 2 that they may instead try to offer their amendment to the full Senate during debate next week, though he conceded it was unlikely that their resolution would prevail. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, a South Dakota Democrat, said he wants the Senate to vote on Levin's resolution, offering it side-by-side with the president's proposed plan. And he said the Senate will likely be given a chance to consider the Biden-Lugar amendment during debate. Each chamber of Congress will set rules for debate and determine if amendments will be allowed during debate -- all in an effort to make debate flow smoothly before a final vote is taken. (The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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