[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 37 (Friday, March 7, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       AMERICAN SERVICEMEMBER AND CIVILIAN PROTECTION ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 6, 2003

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the ``American 
Servicemember and Civilian Protection Act of 2003.''
  This bill prohibits funds made available by the United States 
Government from being used for the establishment or operation of the 
Court.
  Perhaps the most significant part of the bill makes clear that any 
action taken by or on behalf of the Court against members of the United 
States Armed Forces shall be considered an act of aggression against 
the United States; and that any action taken by or on behalf of the 
Court against a United States citizen or national shall be considered 
an offense against the law of nations.
  Mr. Speaker, on May 6, 2002, President George W. Bush took the 
commendable step of repudiating the signature of the United States on 
the Statute of the International Criminal Court, stating that the 
United States ``can no longer be a party'' to the International 
Criminal Court. He also requested that those states choosing membership 
in the Court respect the decision of the United States in this matter.
  Mr. Speaker, the Court is an illegitimate body even by the United 
Nations' own standards. The Statute of the International Criminal Court 
was enacted by a Conference of Diplomats convened by the United Nations 
General Assembly, whereas according to the UN Charter, the authority to 
create such a body lies only in the UN Security Council.
  The International Criminal Court was established contrary to the 
American Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United 
States. It puts United States citizens in jeopardy of unlawful and 
unconstitutional criminal prosecution.
  The International Criminal Court does not provide many of the 
Constitutional protections guaranteed every American citizen, including 
the right to trial by jury, the right to face your accuser, and the 
presumption of innocence, and the protection against double jeopardy.
  Members of the United States Armed Forces are particularly at risk 
for politically motivated arrests, prosecutions, fines, and 
imprisonment for acts engaged in for the protection of the United 
States. These are the same brave men and women who place their lives on 
the line to protect and defend our Constitution. Do they not deserve 
the full protections of that same Constitution?
  Last year Congress passed the American Servicemembers' Protection Act 
within the Defense Authorization bill. Commendable as that effort was, 
the fact of the matter is that because of the numerous loopholes and 
exemptions in that legislation, our servicemembers are still not 
protected from the probing arms of the International Criminal Court. 
American citizens have absolutely no protection under last year's 
legislation. This is simply unacceptable. That is why I am introducing 
this legislation that makes the position of the United States clear: we 
will protect our servicemembers and citizens from this illegal court.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope all members of this body will join me in opposing 
this illegitimate and illegal court by cosponsoring the ``American 
Servicemember and Civilian Protection Act of 2003.''

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