On the recordJune 24, 1998
The amendment holds back half the money authorized for Bosnia operations next year until a vote is held--not a vote to leave them there, not a vote to take them out--a vote on a resolution authorizing continued deployment of U.S. ground combat forces to Bosnia. If it fails, the only result is that the President is required to tell us how and when he intends to withdraw. The money is still released. The purpose is simple and straightforward. It is to use a small amount of leverage, half of next year's money, to force Congress to express itself--that is all, to express itself--clearly on the Bosnia mission. The resolution may pass, it may fail, but at least Congress will have expressed itself. As the Senator from West Virginia has said so eloquently a while ago, why would Congress want to step away from its constitutional responsibilities if it doesn't tell the President what to do? It doesn't restrict the President.
Source
govinfo.gov
