Joe Crowley: “the decision to declare war is one of the most important responsibilities our Constitution has charged to us as Members…”

“the decision to declare war is one of the most important responsibilities our Constitution has charged to us as Members of Congress. As a parent, there is no responsibility that weighs on my mind more heavily than the decision to send our sons and daughters off to war. Yet as a New Yorker, I want to ensure that our country never again faces anything as horrific as the September 11 attack of last year. I have sought out as much information as possible on the threats and risks posed by launching a military confrontation by Iraq, as well as the risks of not acting at all. I have heard intelligence briefings on Saddam Hussein's military capabilities. I have heard administration officials and experts make both sides of the argument in testimony to Congress. I have thought about the thousands of young men and women who may be put in harm's way, and I have thought of their families. During the Vietnam War, my neighborhood of Woodside, Queens, the 11377 ZIP code, lost the highest number of people per capita in our Nation during that conflict. Countless constituents have called me and written to me to express their concerns about the impact that a war against Iraq will have on our Nation, our economy, our communities, and our daily lives.”