[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 153 (Thursday, December 17, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H11752]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      FURTHER LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

  (Mr. ARMEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Armey) is recognized for 1 minute.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I do have a couple of Members that have been 
anxious to speak. With the indulgence of the minority, I would like to 
yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Johnson) for brief remarks.

                              {time}  1530

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to comment on 
several remarks that have been made here. But before I do, let me just 
say that our fighting men are fighting for our constitutional privilege 
to do just exactly what we are doing here today. It is the Constitution 
that we are following. That is why we are doing it.
  The remark was made that we did not remove any generals during a war. 
I kind of recall MacArthur was removed by a Democrat administration 
during Korea, which I fought in. It did not bother the war effort at 
all.
  I also remember when I was a POW in Vietnam that there were people on 
the Democrat side that called for our President's impeachment. That 
process may have started. I am not sure how that happened, but some of 
those people may even be here today.
  When our president, George Bush, attempted to get involved in Desert 
Storm, every single Democrat leader voted against it.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, may I just intercede with a thought. I have a 
couple of other Members here who have been waiting. They want to speak. 
I would hope, and I am sure that we all would agree that we perhaps 
could allow these Members to speak, but perhaps we could be brief and 
then conclude the day's business.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. ARMEY. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I voted with the President. I did not vote 
against him. I voted with the President on that matter.
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield 
further, let me just make another point. I think the President has just 
said that this military action that is currently going on could be 
open-ended, so we do not know when it is going to end.
  Furthermore, most of the veterans' organizations around this country 
support us continuing. I have not seen a war in the past of any sort, 
whether it is a limited conflict or a total out war, that has stopped 
the Congress of the United States from doing its business. We can look 
back in almost any case, even the Civil War, where they were on the 
doorsteps of this building.
  I would suggest that it is important that we carry out the 
responsibilities of this Congress under the Constitution of the United 
States and get on with it.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas, who was a 
prisoner of war for 7 years, much of which was spent in solitary 
confinement. I know from previous discussion during those difficult 
days he was sustained by his knowledge that God was in his heaven and 
Congress was in session doing the Nation's business.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Duncan 
Hunter), another gentleman who served in Vietnam.
  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the majority leader for 
yielding to me.
  Let me just say, it is something that happens regularly here in the 
House that two parties, both in good faith, can look at the same facts 
and come to totally different conclusions. I have come to a totally 
different conclusion from the esteemed minority leader and others who 
feel that troops will be demoralized if we do not stop this 
constitutional process. I think just the opposite. From talking with 
them and with a number of people who are veterans, I have come to the 
conclusion that they will be demoralized if we do stop this 
constitutional process.
  There is one term that I think is common to both this House and to 
our military. That term is duty. We refer to it often, and it is clear 
now that our uniformed people are carrying out their duty in difficult 
circumstances to defend the liberties and security of this country. 
They are doing that so we can perform our duty. Our duty is to carry 
out the Constitution.
  With respect to other nations that are watching this process around 
the world, they have been watching the Committee on the Judiciary on 
television for the last many months. We do not hide our internal 
problems and our internal debates. They are always out there for the 
world to see. I think that is a sign of strength, not a sign of 
weakness.
  I think we would be sending the message to not only our military 
people but to others around the world. If we hold up on our 
constitutional duty because of this strike, then we are sending the 
message that somehow there are political implications in the timing of 
this strike. I think it helps the President's authority and I think it 
helps the credibility of this House, and I think it helps the morale of 
our armed services if we continue to do our job.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I think we have had a very good example of 
the kind of debate we might be able to have and the kind of debate we 
should have.
  I want to personally, if I may, thank the gentleman from Missouri 
(Mr. Gephardt), the minority leader, and the gentleman from Michigan 
(Mr. Bonior), the minority whip. I would like to thank the Speaker-
elect, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Livingston), and the other 
Members who have spoken for their demeanor, their presentation, the 
professionalism by which we have had this sampling of the kind of 
important debate we should have and can have tomorrow.
  It is my hope that we can reach agreement, or by other parliamentary 
matters available to us we can find a way to extend an orderly, serious 
debate of such a grave nature on such a grave matter tomorrow. Again, 
let me that all the gentlemen who participated.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that concludes any proceedings for today. 
Tomorrow we will proceed at 9 a.m. under the regular order for debate 
time of 1 hour. If perhaps we can find a better way to extend that, it 
is my hope we can do so.

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