[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 127 (Tuesday, September 13, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             LET US DEBATE AND VOTE ON INVOLVEMENT IN HAITI

  (Mr. PENNY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PENNY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to add my voice to those to support 
the Skaggs resolution. This resolution was referenced by earlier 
speakers and by the gentleman from Colorado [Mr. Skaggs] himself just a 
minute ago.
  The resolution simply calls upon the Congress to schedule a debate 
and a vote on the issue of American involvement in Haiti. I am one of 
those Members who is inclined to support the President's position on 
this issue. I have indicated my support for many of the issues they 
have undertaken to date, and I am inclined to support the provisions of 
the U.N. resolution recently approved.
  But I do not believe that this is an action that can be taken by the 
President of the United States without the approval of the U.S. 
Congress. This is, by any definition, a foreign engagement. The 
Constitution is very clear on this point. A debate and a vote is 
required, and the President would do himself a disservice if he 
proceeded to take action without the kind of debate that will bring the 
American public behind this decision.

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