[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 135 (Friday, September 23, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
     HEARINGS SOUGHT ON DEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES FORCES TO HAITI

  (Mr. ZIMMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ZIMMER. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Government Operations 
Subcommittee on Legislation and National Security, I asked our chairman 
this week to hold hearings as soon as possible to ascertain what 
national security interests, if any, justify the deployment of American 
military personnel to Haiti.
  President Clinton failed to secure congressional authorization prior 
to ordering that deployment. As a coequal branch of Government, we have 
a constitutional obligation to hold hearings on this matter now.
  Because the administration vigorously asserts that its actions in 
Haiti are justified, I assume it will welcome a formal inquiry.
  It obviously is too late to avoid military involvement in Haiti. But 
for the sake of our military men and women there, it is vital that they 
and their families clearly understand why they are there, how the 
decision was made to send them, and when they will be returning home.

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