Political Quotes

“I thank my friend from California, Chairman McKeon, for yielding. Mr. Chairman, in 1793, George Washington said: ``The Constitution vests the power of declaring war in Congress; therefore, no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they shall have deliberated upon the subject and authorized such a measure.'' In a letter to Thomas Jefferson in 1798, James Madison wrote: ``The Constitution supposes what the history of all governments demonstrate, that the executive is the branch of power most interested in war, and prone to it. It has accordingly with studied care vested the question of war to the legislature.'' That is why it is right for President Obama to announce in the Rose Garden that he would seek congressional authorization before taking any military action against Syria. He said: ``I've long believed that our power is rooted not just in our military might, but in our example as a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. And that's why I've made a second decision: I will seek authorization for the use of force from the American people's representatives in Congress.'' It is deeply encouraging tonight, Mr. Chairman, to see such strong bipartisan support for my amendment, which advances the just cause of ensuring that the Obama administration and future administrations adhere to the Constitution and the grave matter of engaging U.S. forces in hostilities.”