Orrin Hatch: “I regret that a family emergency in Utah kept me from the Senate yesterday. Had I been present, I would have voted in…”

“I regret that a family emergency in Utah kept me from the Senate yesterday. Had I been present, I would have voted in favor of the motion to proceed on S.J. Res. 45, the resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq. The President and his administration have been actively consulting with the Congress on the language of this resolution over the past days and weeks. Our committees have heard many testimonies from the administration and other experts. And, for many years now, we have been apprised of the threat of Saddam Hussein and his outlaw regime. It is time for the Congress to come together, to hold a public debate, and to vote on a critical request made by this Administration. This administration has worked closely, and will continue to work closely, with our allies and the United Nations. The challenge posed to the U.N. by President Bush in his historic speech before the General Assembly last month demonstrated the dedication that the U.S. wishes to keep the U.N. relevant, while plainly stating that our national interest cannot and will not be subjugated to Saddam's willful deceptions and manipulations before that body. The world is looking to the United States to see our resolve. It is time for the world to see the American Congress debate whether we will support our Administration. I believe that we will show the world that this Congress, and the American people, overwhelmingly supports our President.”