[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 172 (Thursday, November 2, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENSE OF HOUSE RELATING TO DEPLOYMENT OF ARMED FORCES IN BOSNIA AND 
                              HERZEGOVINA

                                 ______


                               speech of

                            HON. BOB CLEMENT

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 30, 1995

  Mr. CLEMENT. Mr. Speaker, after three and a half years of bloody 
conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina, long anticipated peace negotiations 
will begin today at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH. 
I applaud the efforts of President Clinton, Secretary of State Warren 
Christopher, and the participating leaders from Bosnia, Croatia, and 
Serbia, for these negotiations may be the last best chance for peace in 
this war torn part of our world.
  It is unfortunate that Congress tarnished the optimistic spirit of 
this summit on Monday by considering H. Res. 247. Mr. Speaker, this 
resolution was a deliberate partisan attempt to undermine the President 
and call into question his credibility on matters relating to foreign 
affairs. With hardly an hour's debate and no hearings, on the eve of 
this historic conference, Congress has already tied one hand behind the 
President's back, and jeopardized the success of these talks.
  I was the only member in the Tennessee delegation to vote against 
this resolution, which we only learned would be considered last Friday. 
Taking into account the short notice before voting on this legislation, 
lack of intelligent debate and investigation, and the premature timing 
for such an edict from Congress, I felt clearly this was not the right 
message to send to our President and the Balkan negotiators.
  This vote was not the last vote regarding United States policy for 
deploying Armed Forces in Bosnia. Whatever proposals or agreements 
result from the Dayton peace talks, which involve the lives of U.S. 
servicemen, they will have to pass before the judgment of this body. 
This is inherent in our beloved Constitution. However, I pray this 
blatant, political attempt to embarrass the President, has not 
imperiled a peaceful resolution to this grisly conflict.

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