[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 82 (Thursday, June 10, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 9, 1999

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1401) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2000 and 2001 for 
     military activities of the Department of Defense, to 
     prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal years 2000 
     and 2001, and for other purposes:

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak in opposition to the 
Gilman-Goss amendment.
  This foolish and dangerous amendment would prohibit the use of funds 
to maintain a U.S. military presence in Haiti after December 31 of this 
year. The effect of this amendment is to gut US Support Group Haiti, an 
important humanitarian, engineering and civic affairs operation, and 
deny our President the flexibility he needs to determine our nation's 
troop deployments.
  Haiti is currently planning to hold elections later this year. This 
elections follow months of political instability. It is vital that the 
United States show our support for the democratic process in this 
country.
  Unfortunately, this is not the first time that Members on the other 
side of the aisle have attempted to interfere in our nation's support 
for democracy in Haiti. Last month, Republicans led an effort to squash 
a human rights observation mission that represented the one credible 
human rights organization in Haiti during this difficult time.
  Now, these same critics of our nation's policy toward Haiti are 
attempting to force our troops to leave at a time when their presence 
is especially important to support stability and aid in democratization 
efforts.
  The people of Haiti are looking forward to having elections later 
this year. Requiring the courageous and dedicated men and women of our 
nation's armed forces to leave the country now would send a terrible 
message to the Haitian people about our willingness to support the 
democratic process in this country. Now is not the time to consider 
withdrawing these men and women at this critical point in Haiti's 
history.
  I urge my colleagues to vote against the Gilman-Goss amendment.

                          ____________________