Hon. Michael G. Oxley: “let me first say to my friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), and to all of the participants in this historic…”

“let me first say to my friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), and to all of the participants in this historic debate how much I appreciate their leadership and their ability to debate this issue in a very courteous and effective manner. One hundred thirty-eight Members of this House were present back when we debated the original Gulf resolution. Those of us who were here at the time, including myself, remember that as one of the historic times in this Chamber. We return today in many ways to debate some of the very same issues we debated so many years ago. All of us, I think, feel a tremendous sense of honor to have an opportunity to debate these issues before us. But ultimately the substitute offered by my friend from South Carolina fails to put us in a position to be as effective as we were back in 1991. Indeed, it probably takes us a step backward. If you look at the U.N. resolutions, 16 resolutions ultimately in that language, there is the ability of the world to go after Saddam without another U.N. resolution, without another resolution passed by the Congress. Yet the President came to the leadership of our body and requested that the Congress give this kind of authority. That is exactly what our leadership did. My hat is off to the Speaker and to the minority leader, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), for coming together and putting together a bipartisan resolution that should be supported.”