Danny Davis: “on October 10, 2002, this Congress voted to give the President of the United States broad powers to engage in a…”

“on October 10, 2002, this Congress voted to give the President of the United States broad powers to engage in a unilateral first strike war against Iraq without a clearly demonstrated and imminent threat of attack on the United States. Our oath of office as Members of Congress, our constitutional charge, the mandate laid upon us by the people, does not permit us to delegate the responsibility of engaging the awesome military power of the United States. Our oath of office does not permit us to delegate our responsibilities in placing our fighting men and women in the field of battle, and I commend each and every one of them for the sacrifices they are making for freedom-loving people throughout the world. Our Constitution places the power to declare war squarely and solely in the Congress. This issue rises far above partisan politics. President Lincoln put our congressional responsibility this way, when he said: ``We cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance or insignificance can spare one or another of us.…”