Bob Dole: “Today I am pleased to stand with Senators Helms, Thurmond, Hatch, Cohen, Warner, Hutchison, McCain, Lott, and Nickles to…”

“Today I am pleased to stand with Senators Helms, Thurmond, Hatch, Cohen, Warner, Hutchison, McCain, Lott, and Nickles to introduce the Peace Powers Act of 1995. Twenty-two years ago, I voted for S. 440, the War Powers Act of 1973. The act passed 72-18. Only 2 of those 18 Senators are serving in the 104th Congress: The chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Helms, and the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Senator Thurmond. The conference report later passed, and President Nixon's veto was overridden. On each of those votes, I was in the majority while Senator Helms and Senator Thurmond were in the minority. After two decades, I now admit they were right, and I was wrong. Today, on the first day of the 104th Congress, I am introducing legislation to repeal the War Powers Resolution. War Powers was an admirable effort. It was enacted in the aftermath of a divisive war. It was an attempt to prevent more 'Vietnams.' But the War Powers Resolution did not end division between the executive and legislative branch--it provided a focus for such division and may have actually increased disputes between the branches.”