[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 59 (Friday, May 10, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING THE INTERNATIONAL 
                             CRIMINAL COURT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 9, 2002

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill Expressing 
the Sense of the Congress regarding the International Criminal Court.
  On Monday, May 6, President George W. Bush directed his 
representative to inform United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan 
that the United States ``does not intend to become a party to the 
treaty [the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC)].'' 
President Bush is to be highly commended for renouncing the U.S. 
signature on the ICC treaty, a bold first step toward protecting 
American servicemembers and citizens from the possibility of 
unwarranted and politically-motivated persecutions.
  By taking this action, President Bush has put the international 
community on notice that the United States will defend its sovereignty 
and citizens from this global court. The Bush Administration correctly 
pointed out that the ICC has unchecked power that contradicts our 
Constitution and its system of checks and balances; that the Court is 
``open for exploitation and politically-motivated prosecutions;'' and 
that ``the ICC asserts jurisdiction over citizens of states that have 
not ratified the treaty''--which seriously threatens American 
sovereignty.
  I applaud President Bush in making it perfectly clear that the United 
States wants no part of the ICC. He faced enormous pressure from the 
international community to do otherwise, yet he did the right thing.
  But this is only a first step. As Secretary of Defense Donald 
Rumsfeld stated this week, upon our renunciation of the ICC: 
``Unfortunately, the ICC will not respect the U.S. decision to stay out 
of the treaty. To the contrary, the ICC provisions claim the authority 
to detain and try American citizens--U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and 
Marines, as well as current and future officials--even though the 
United States has not given its consent to be bound by the treaty.'' 
Secretary Rumsfeld added, ``When the ICC treaty enters into force this 
summer, U.S. citizens will be exposed to the risk of prosecution by a 
court that is unaccountable to the American people, and that has no 
obligation to respect the Constitutional rights of our citizens.''
  Undersecretary of State Marc Grossman, explaining the president's 
decision to withdraw from the ICC, made the following critical point: 
``Notwithstanding our disagreements with the Rome Treaty, the United 
States respects the decision of those nations who have chosen to join 
the ICC, but they in turn must respect our decision not to join the ICC 
or place our citizens under the jurisdiction of the court.'' There is 
no indication that Undersecretary Grossman's message has been received.
  Therefore, this legislation makes it clear that Congress should take 
all steps necessary to grant appropriate authority to the president to 
defend the American people--servicemember and citizen alike--from the 
threat of arrest, prosecution and conviction by the International 
Criminal Court.
  I am introducing this legislation to also to commend President Bush 
for his courageous move, to assure the president that this body 
supports his action to protect the Constitution and American 
sovereignty. We have all taken an oath to protect and defend the 
Constitution, and we should stand with the president.
  I rise, finally, to encourage the president to remain steadfast in 
his intention of protecting American servicemembers and citizens from 
the unchecked power of the International Criminal Court. This is only 
the beginning, however, there is much more to be done.

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