Sanford Bishop: “Mr. Speaker, today the Members of this body are called to face an awesome challenge and a very perplexing dilemma. We…”

“Mr. Speaker, today the Members of this body are called to face an awesome challenge and a very perplexing dilemma. We must decide whether or not to authorize the President to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate to defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq and enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq. The measure requires that before military action is begun or as soon thereafter as feasible, but not later than 48 hours, the President must report to Congress that all diplomatic efforts to protect the security of the United States against the threat posed by Iraq or to enforce all relevant U.N. resolutions regarding Iraq have been exhausted. The resolution also requires that the President must report to the Congress that military action against Iraq is consistent with our continued actions against international terrorists, including those responsible for 9/11. The resolution states that it is consistent with the War Powers Act and constitutes specific authorization within the meaning of the War Powers Act.”