[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 135 (Thursday, October 1, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H9191-H9192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       PRESIDENT SHOULD NOT GO TO WAR WITHOUT CONSENT OF CONGRESS

  (Mr. CAMPBELL asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. Speaker, a letter is presently being circulated 
that has been authored by my good friend and colleague, the gentleman 
from Colorado (Mr. Skaggs), and myself. I would ask for my colleagues' 
attention to it, please, if they could sign it.
  The letter is addressed to the President of the United States and it 
vindicates the most important obligation that we have, and that is in 
the area of warmaking. The Constitution says that we do not go to war 
unless the representatives of the people, in this House and in the 
other body, vote for it. It does not give the President the right to go 
to war on his own.
  My colleagues, we are about to go to war. We are about to go to war 
in Kosovo. If it is the right thing, so be it. The President should 
make the case it is the right thing here in the people's House. Have us 
approve it or not. But

[[Page H9192]]

to go ahead without the approval of the Congress violates the 
Constitution and, almost as important, undercuts the sense of resolve 
for the important work that we may be able to accomplish in Kosovo.
  I ask my colleagues to please sign the Skaggs-Campbell letter and ask 
the President to abide by the Constitution. Do not go to war without 
the approval of the American people.

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