Wendy Sherman: “I don't want to characterize the resolution. I want to read it. It requires the President of the United States to remove…”

“I don't want to characterize the resolution. I want to read it. It requires the President of the United States to remove all of our forces, except those needed to protect our diplomatic facilities--and here are the words--``by no later than the end of the period of 30 days beginning on the day on which this concurrent resolution is adopted.'' Now, that certainly applies to all our naval forces and all our air forces. But then it goes on to say, if the President determines that it is not safe to remove forces, he can have an additional period up to the end of the year. That assumes that our ground forces cannot be withdrawn within a 30-day period. Our forces are mobile. They are capable. They are currently behind the front lines. And they can, indeed, leave within 30 days. So clause 2 is applicable only to a military that is engaged in combat or is immobile. Our military is neither. Clause 1: ``30 days beginning on the day on which this concurrent resolution is adopted.'' Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I urge my colleagues to read the resolution because basically what it does, it gives the President up through the end of the year, if he so chooses. I mean, that is what the resolution says. And I would hope that in 6 months we could come together and pass an AUMF.…”