Cliff Stearns: “I support the emergency supplemental bill, and I reluctantly oppose the amendment offered by the gentleman from Oklahoma…”

“I support the emergency supplemental bill, and I reluctantly oppose the amendment offered by the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook). Let me just say to all those members on this side of the aisle who are thinking about supporting the amendment offered by the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook). This is a crucial question we have to think about. We have already had the vote with the Goodling-Fowler amendment. It was very clear how Members felt when they supported it: No deployment of ground forces, of the United States Armed Forces in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, et cetera, et cetera. It is very clear. Members have had their vote on this side of the aisle, so Members do not have to go out and make their strong stand on this, because there is a much larger issue we are talking about. When we read the Istook language, the Goodling-Fowler has the word 'deployment' and Istook had implementation. They are very, very similar. Do Members think they have to make another stand on an emergency supplemental appropriations that is going to affect our military? Our forces have been engaged in 26 different engagements over the past 8 years, while the U.S. forces had only been engaged in just 10, just 10 from 1961 to 1991.”