Political Quotes

“there should be no issue of more importance to Members of Congress than the issue of war and peace and when it is appropriate to send the young people of our country into harm's way, knowing that some of them will not return home alive. It goes without saying that every armed conflict the United States of America is engaged in must be consistent with the Constitution of the United States and be lawful. Let's make no mistake about it--article I, section 8 of the Constitution states in no uncertain terms that ``Congress shall have the power to . . . declare war.'' The Founding Fathers gave the power to declare war to Congress because Congress is that body most accountable to the people. For far too long, Congress--under Democratic and Republican administrations--has abdicated its constitutional role in authorizing war. The time is long overdue for Congress to reassert its constitutional authority. If you think that a military intervention makes sense, then let's have that debate on the floors of the Senate and the House and cast a vote. But that is not what we have been seeing for a number of years. What Senator Lee and Senator Murphy and I are doing with privileged resolution S.J. Res. 54 is demanding that Congress once again take its constitutional responsibility for war and peace seriously. I thank Senators Durbin, Warren, and Booker for coming on board that resolution. I hope this bipartisan resolution will gain more and more support in the coming days.…”