Nick Rahall: “combating international terrorism is in the vital national interest of the United States. There can be no mistake about…”

“combating international terrorism is in the vital national interest of the United States. There can be no mistake about that. Nor can there be any question that the Clinton administration has worked tirelessly in pursuit of this objective. While the purpose of H.R. 748 is to assist in this effort, the ultimate consequence, albeit unintended, may very well be the opposite. If passed, H.R. 748 will prevent the administration from acting on foreign policy objectives and conducting basic diplomacy. In his opening remarks, Representative McCollum stated clearly, ``The bill strips the executive branch of the authority to issue regulations exempting transactions from the prohibition. It establishes instead a legislative exception * * *.'' By removing any flexibility the Executive branch has in implementing economic sanctions or prohibitions on financial transactions, the President is stripped of his ability to conduct the foreign policy affairs of the United States--a responsibility granted him by the Constitution. In addition, while this bill may be touted as a safeguard against loopholes in existing legislation, it is vital to point out that the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 is an effective tool employed by the President to advance our counter-terrorism agenda in a manner he deems most appropriate, country by country.”