On the recordSeptember 18, 2014
we have before us one of the most important duties of the Senate and the Congress; that is, to decide whether we will be involved in war. I think it is inexcusable that the debate over whether we involve the country in war--another country's civil war--that this would be debated as part of a spending bill and not as part of an independent free-standing bill. It was debated as a free-standing bill yesterday in the House. There was a free-standing amendment. It takes 15 extra minutes. One might wonder why the Senate--the most deliberative body of the world--does not have 15 minutes to debate separately a question of war. It will be thrown into an amendment or a bill over spending. Instead of having a debate over war, we will have a debate over spending. I think this is a sad day for the Senate. It goes against our history. It goes against the history of the country. Therefore, I have asked that the amendment that I will set before the Senate will separate the votes so we will have a debate over war and then we will have a debate over spending. I have an amendment at the desk that would cue up the two separate votes on this legislation and allow the Senate to vote on the inclusion of the Syria language as a separate question. I ask unanimous consent that it be in order for me to call up my amendment No. 3856. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
