Roscoe Bartlett: “our President may be a globalist. He may genuinely believe that if we support a U.N. army that is stronger than the…”

“our President may be a globalist. He may genuinely believe that if we support a U.N. army that is stronger than the military of any member state, that this will permit the United Nations to keep the peace in the world. This rapid response force could very easily be a first step in this direction. Clearly, the President means it to be a step in whatever direction he intends to go because he has given them $200,000. I have some problem understanding how he can do this because Article I, section 9 of the Constitution says, ``No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law.'' The Congress makes those appropriations. We made no such appropriation. I do not understand how the President can give our taxpayers' money to the U.N. without an act of Congress. The citizens of our country do not support any such idea as a standing army or rapid response force in the United Nations. They support the Constitution, which says very clearly, in Article I, section 8, ``The Congress shall have power to declare war.'' The President cannot do this, and any time he sends troops in harm's way it is the equivalent of a declaration of war, and I submit that that is technically in violation of the Constitution. Mr. Chairman, if we vote down this amendment, Americans will think that we have gone mad. If we are going to be involved in military activities, we need to do so as Americans and under the control of Americans.”