[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]

 
       REQUEST BY MEMBER TO OFFER PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION ON HAITI

  (Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I have at the Speaker's desk 
a privileged resolution raising a question of the privileges of the 
House. I offer that resolution, and ask for its immediate 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Torres). Under the rules of the House, 
the gentleman may announce his intention, but may not call up the 
resolution at this point.
  Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I wish to address the Chair 
on that matter.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is recognized for 1 minute.
  Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I am requesting a vote on a 
privileged resolution. This resolution is similar to the resolution 
that passed the House on January 12, 1991. That resolution expressed 
the sense of Congress that Congress must approve any offensive action 
against Iraq.
  This resolution is a privileged resolution under the rules of the 
House of Representatives, under rule IX, which states, ``Questions of 
privilege shall be, first, those affecting the House collectively.''
  Second, section 664 of rule IX entitled ``General principles as to 
precedence of questions of privilege'' states that ``as the business of 
the House began to increase, it found necessary to give certain 
important matters a precedence by rule, and such matters are called 
`privileged questions.'''
  Section 664 goes on to state, ``Certain matters of business, arising 
under the provisions of the Constitution mandatory in nature, have been 
held to have a privilege which superseded the rules establishing the 
order of business.''
  One provision of our Nation's Constitution that is most clearly 
mandatory in nature is article 1, section 8, clause 11. It states, 
``The Congress shall have the power to declare war * * * to raise and 
support armies, to maintain a navy, to make rule for the Government and 
regulation of the land and naval forces.''
  Mr. Speaker, the events of the past few days can lead one to no other 
conclusion than that the President of the United States intends to wage 
war against Haiti. As of yesterday, the President had received 
commitments from 17 heads of state to participate in this war. Last 
night, the major news networks reported on our Nation's military 
preparedness for an invasion of Haiti.
  This Congress cannot stand idly by and avoid our constitutional duty. 
The decision to declare war rests solely with the Congress of the 
United States.
  I request that the Chair rule immediately on this resolution, and in 
making that ruling, abide by section 664 of the House rules, of rule 
IX, ``General principles as to the precedence of questions of 
privilege.''
  Once again, it states, ``Certain matters of business arising under 
the provisions of the Constitution mandatory in nature have been held 
to have a privilege which has superseded the rules establishing the 
order of business.''
  Obviously, the decision to go to war with Haiti is directly affected 
by a provision of the Constitution mandatory in nature.
  This resolution is therefore a privileged resolution as defined by 
rule IX of the rules of the House of Representatives.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair at this time will read from rule 
IX. A resolution offered from the floor by a Member other than the 
majority leader or the minority leader as a question of the privileges 
of the House shall have precedence of all other questions except 
motions to adjourn only at a time or place, designated by the Speaker, 
in the legislative schedule within 2 legislative days after the day on 
which the proponent announces to the House his intention to offer the 
resolution and the form of the resolution.
  The Chair would state at this point that the gentleman may read into 
the Record the form of his resolution.
  Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, before I do that, I would ask 
again to be recognized for 1 minute.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair would advise that the gentleman 
has had his 1 minute to inform us of his intention and must now read 
the form of his resolution into the Record.

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