[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 36 (Monday, March 8, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H1018]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF H. CON. RES. 42, PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS IN KOSOVO 
                               RESOLUTION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, at the request of the Speaker, I have today 
introduced H. Con. Res. 42, the ``Peacekeeping Operations in Kosovo 
Resolution''.
  The purpose of this resolution is to afford an opportunity for the 
House of Representatives to participate in the decision whether to 
deploy U.S. Armed Forces to Kosovo to implement the peace agreement now 
being negotiated at Rambouillet, France. The Congress has a 
constitutional responsibility with respect to deployments of U.S. Armed 
Forces into potentially hostile situations, and the Speaker and I 
believe that debating and voting on this resolution is an appropriate 
way for the Congress to begin to carry out this responsibility.
  Some Members of Congress have serious reservations about deploying 
U.S. Armed Forces to Kosovo as peacekeepers. Others strongly support 
the President's policy. In an effort to give the benefit of the doubt 
to our President, the test of this resolution does not criticize or 
oppose the proposed deployment to Kosovo. To the contrary, it states 
that ``[t]he President is authorized to deploy United States Armed 
Forces personnel to Kosovo as part of a NATO peacekeeping operation 
implementing a Kosovo peace agreement.''
  The Speaker has stressed that this resolution is being offered 
without prejudice to the underlying question. We expect Members to vote 
their conscience on the resolution, in a solemn exercise of their 
responsibility as the elected representatives of the American people.

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