[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 6]
[House]
[Pages 7797-7798]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       CONGRESS IS SENDING WRONG MESSAGE TO U.S. TROOPS IN KOSOVO

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I do not know what we wrought 
just a few minutes ago. And it is interesting to listen to my 
colleagues talk about defending the troops and saving lives. But if 
they would have read the resolution that we had before us just a few 
minutes ago, although I am not challenging the conscience of those who 
express themselves, this is where we should do it. That is why we have 
a democracy.
  But it is interesting, Mr. Speaker, that just a few minutes ago we 
voted not to support those troops who have their lives on the line, who 
engage in the military air strikes, just as our Senate colleagues voted 
a couple of weeks ago to say we support their efforts in bringing about 
peace, in bringing about a resolution in fighting for the refuges.
  I am not sure what we thought we were doing, but the message that 
goes

[[Page 7798]]

out to those who have to leave right now and engage in war and conflict 
on behalf of the freedom of those of us here in the United States and 
of those refugees being murdered and raped is that we are not in 
support of their efforts.
  I hope that we will not say to the POWs we do not want them home. I 
hope that we will correct this mistake that we have made. But most of 
all, I hope the clear message will be that we, as Americans, stand 
united behind freedom, behind justice, and behind the safe return of 
the refugees and the POWs.

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