[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 8, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H3493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      THE POWERS OF WAR ARE ENTRUSTED TO THE UNITED STATE CONGRESS

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as the Judiciary Committee sits at this 
time to uphold the rule of law, I want to make sure that the American 
people understand the role of the United States Congress, that is, to 
represent the people, to engage in oversight and truth.
  As a student of the Mideast, a visitor of the Mideast on behalf of 
this country on any number of occasions, and, of course, throughout the 
Iraq war, and, of course, also visiting that area of the world during 
the Afghan war, I know what our soldiers go through. Boots on the 
ground.
  I can never live their life, but I am very concerned about the 
presence of the U.S. military by way of a naval ship that is in the 
Mideast at this time. No explanation has been given to the American 
people.
  The Secretary of State makes a surprise visit to Iraq.
  I simply want to say that the powers of war are entrusted to the 
United States House of Representatives, the United States Congress.
  It is inappropriate for there to be saber rattling by this 
administration with Iran with no explanation as to why we send young 
men and women into harm's way. We should not use one approach to start 
a war to overcome an approach dealing with the investigation of the 
rule of law. I oppose any such saber rattling.
  We need to understand what is going on in the Mideast. We have to 
protect the men and women of the United States military, though, they 
fight for us.

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