[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 61 (Tuesday, April 17, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S4589]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       U.S. FOREIGN POLICY AGENDA

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I rise today in support of a sense-of-the-
Congress amendment my good friend and colleague Senator Inhofe has just 
submitted regarding Presidential authority over setting American 
foreign policy. Like all of my colleagues, I have the right to visit 
foreign countries in my capacity as a Member of Congress. However, the 
Constitution is quite clear about the separation of powers between the 
legislative and executive branches of our government, and the executive 
branch has the exclusive authority to conduct negotiations with foreign 
countries.
  As we all know, the Logan Act prohibits American citizens from 
negotiating with foreign governments without the authority of the 
United States. What would it mean if a Member of the House or Senate, 
and especially a member of the leadership, was to visit a foreign 
country and in discussions with their government, explicitly speak out 
against our Nation's foreign policy agenda? High ranking Members of 
Congress, I believe, are seen by foreign governments as carrying an 
official message of foreign policy, and if such members contradict the 
administration, it can be very damaging to our country politically and 
diplomatically.
  Members of Congress have the ability to express their dissent from 
the floor of their respective Chambers, but under no circumstances 
should Members visit with foreign governments for the sole purpose of 
demonstrating their opposition to the administration's foreign policy. 
Such actions would show a sincere lack of respect for the boundaries 
drawn out by our Constitution, and I would hope that all Members of 
Congress will use good judgment when visiting with foreign governments 
in the future.
  It is a very dangerous precedent to set if Members of Congress decide 
to buck the American foreign policy agenda and carry mixed messages to 
foreign governments, especially foreign governments hostile to our 
country. While I will continue to support congressional rights to 
travel abroad and meet with government officials, there is a 
responsibility that comes along with those visits, and that 
responsibility is to uphold and support the administration's foreign 
policy agenda.
  For this reason I have joined my colleague Senator Inhofe in 
submitting this amendment. I believe it sends a clear and strong 
message that Members of Congress have the responsibility to defer to 
and support the administration on setting our Nation's foreign policy 
agenda, and under no circumstances should Members blatantly defy our 
administration for purely political gain.

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