[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 18, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H1950]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  2230
                     SEEKING AN ALTERNATIVE TO WAR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bonner). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished 
Speaker, and I am delighted to be able to join the chairman of the 
Congressional Black Caucus and my colleagues in following up on this 
outstanding Special Order that the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Cummings) has led and to thank him. I do not think we appropriately 
thanked him as the time has run out for his wisdom and insight in 
bringing us together this evening.
  This is a very trying time for the chairman in his leadership role 
and for this Congress, and for him to have the courage to be able to 
stand up on the floor of the House and convene his colleagues, knowing 
of the name-calling that is going on in this country, but I think as I 
have spoken to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) earlier, he 
has admitted that he is willing to risk affection and admiration to be 
able to tell the truth and to speak on behalf of the Nation's 
constituents who are concerned about the direction this Nation has 
taken and certainly the choices that we are making, choosing war over 
peace, and actually not choosing life over death.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish to say that I rise this evening to really speak 
to the deafening silence that we have seen occurring in the realm or in 
the august halls of this particular body, and that is that we have come 
now to almost the brink of a decision; I will not say the brink of war, 
I am going to say the brink of a possible decision and yet, this 
Congress, the 108th Congress, Mr. Speaker, has not taken up the 
question of a declaration of war. The silence is enormously deafening, 
I say to my colleagues, for this reason.
  The Constitution is clear when it enunciates the powers of this 
Congress in article I, section 8, along with the duties of imposing and 
exercising taxes and paying debts and providing for the common defense 
and general welfare. It announces clearly to declare war and make rules 
concerning captures on land and water. Somewhat antiquated language, 
but it is very clear, Mr. Speaker, that this body has a duty and 
obligation to declare war. The President is the Commander in Chief, and 
we fully respect and understand that. And as he is the Commander in 
Chief, he can deploy troops.
  Yes, the Congress entered into, or this Nation entered into, the 
Korean conflict, the Vietnam police action; but because Congress fails 
to act, it does not abdicate its duty and its responsibility. The one 
thing America needs to understand is that there is no doubt or any 
question that if we were under imminent attack, it is clear that the 
Commander in Chief could defend, along with the armed services, the 
United States military, this Nation. In fact, the war powers resolution 
clearly enunciated that perspective by statute, that if any President 
felt we were under imminent attack, as was indicated to us in October 
of 2002, that President could engage in the protection of this Nation 
and report back to the Congress.
  Sadly, and maybe graciously, Mr. Speaker, we are not under imminent 
attack. We were not under imminent attack in the October 2002 debate 
and, in fact, I would say that our colleagues, our friends, Members of 
this body and the other body, deserve to redebate this question 
because, Mr. Speaker, we did not know of the dire circumstances of 
North Korea. We did not know of its unclassified now state or status, 
of its ability or potential of, if you will, creating and having 
nuclear weapons. So now we have our war missiles and our troops focused 
on Iraq.
  Mr. Speaker, I would say to my colleagues that this is the time for 
this Nation to see this democratic body debate the question of war, up 
or down, should we declare war against Iraq. We will not harm our 
troops. We have all stood here and said that we do not divide on our 
troops. There is no divide. The mission is in question. But we will lay 
down our lives for our troops as they are ready to lay down their lives 
for this Nation.
  Why castigate those of us who allegedly are accused of being 
unpatriotic when everyone knows that the armed services comes from all 
of our respective districts?
  So, Mr. Speaker, I think it is important this evening as the time 
seems to be shortened, I believe it is important to look for, Mr. 
Speaker, an alternative. There is another way. And I demand, if you 
will, that this House debate the question that we indict Saddam 
Hussein, that we leave 50,000 troops and bring the others home, that we 
seek to put in humanitarian aid, we fight for the Mideast peace, and we 
fight the war against terrorism; but we find an alternative, because it 
is better to choose life over death and peace over war.

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