H78 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 9, 2020 demonstrated by a series of recent Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, for more U.S. troops have been deployed to major disasters—which the Democrats the purpose of debate only, I yield the the region; operations against ISIS are working hard to support. customary 30 minutes to the gen- have been suspended; the Iraqi Par- We must remain committed to re- tleman from Texas (Mr. BURGESS), liament has voted to kick American building disaster-stricken commu- pending which I yield myself such time troops out of Iraq—all because of the nities, replacing crumbling infrastruc- as I may consume. During consider- brash decision of one man: the Presi- ture, and developing and deploying the ation of this , all time yield- dent of the United States. infrastructure needed to connect us ed is for the purpose of debate only. Madam Speaker, there was no ques- like never before, including through GENERAL LEAVE tion that Soleimani was a ruthless 5G. Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I military commander. He had Amer- We cannot allow the Senate and this ask unanimous consent that all Mem- ican, Syrian, Lebanese, Iraqi, and Yem- administration to impede our efforts to bers be given 5 legislative days to re- eni blood on his hands. But that is not make American infrastructure better, vise and extend their remarks. up for debate today, nor is the question safer, and more resilient. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there of whether or not killing him was a f objection to the request of the gen- good or bad idea. tleman from Massachusetts? The President of the United States COMMUNICATION FROM THE assassinated a high-level foreign mili- CLERK OF THE HOUSE There was no objection. Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, tary commander without asking or The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- yesterday, the Rules Committee met even notifying Congress beforehand. fore the House the following commu- and reported a rule, House Resolution Madam Speaker, with little evidence, nication from the Clerk of the House of 781, providing for consideration of H. the President claims his actions pre- Representatives: Con. Res. 83 under a closed rule. The vented an imminent threat, but the OFFICE OF THE CLERK, resolution also provides 1 hour of gen- American people have heard that one HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, eral debate, controlled by the chair and before. We remember the stories about Washington, DC, January 9, 2020. weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. ranking minority member of the com- Hon. , We remember the tens of thousands of The Speaker, House of Representatives, mittee on Foreign Affairs. Madam Speaker, the question before American soldiers who paid the price Washington, DC. for that deception. DEAR MADAM SPEAKER: Pursuant to the us today is very simple: Should Presi- Madam Speaker, is this Congress permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II dent Trump be allowed to send the going to sit by and allow that to hap- of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representa- United States hurtling toward pen in Iran, or are we going to ensure tives, the Clerk received the following mes- with Iran without prior congressional sage from the Secretary of the Senate on that this body acts before a war begins January 9, 2020, at 9:28 a.m.: approval? that could continue long after Presi- It is a question we must wrestle with That the Senate passed S. 1228. dent Trump leaves office? That the Senate passed S. 1611. following the President’s actions last That the Senate passed without amend- Now, the Constitution is clear; it is Thursday. That is when he ordered the crystal clear. Article I, Section 8 gives ment H.R. 583. lethal drone attack on Iraqi soil that With best wishes, I am Congress the power to declare war, but Sincerely, killed Iranian General Soleimani. The President Trump treated Congress as if CHERYL L. JOHNSON. outgoing Prime Minister has said the it were an afterthought in a decision f strike was carried out without Iraqi that has destabilized the region and permission or knowledge. It was done PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION shaken the world. without any plan for the consequences More than 4,000 of our brave men and OF H. CON. RES. 83, IRAN WAR in the region or the world. And, more women are now being sent to the Per- POWERS RESOLUTION troubling still, it was carried out with- sian Gulf, all without any input from Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, by out any input from the people’s Rep- the people’s Chamber. direction of the Committee on Rules, I resentatives here in Congress. We represent the brave young men call up House Resolution 781 and ask Think about that. and women who are deploying to Ku- for its immediate consideration. Madam Speaker, just a month ago, wait; we represent those deploying to The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- Iran was staring down some of the Iraq; and we represent those deploying lows: most intense antigovernment protests elsewhere across the Middle East. Each H. RES. 781 in a decade. Thousands took to the of us speaks for them, and we speak for Resolved, That upon adoption of this reso- streets of Tehran to express growing their families, who are scared sick as lution it shall be in order to consider in the frustration and anger with their lead- their loved ones receive orders to de- House the concurrent resolution (H. Con. ers. ploy. Res. 83) directing the President pursuant to But what a difference a month Madam Speaker, we must summon section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to makes. Protestors—men, women, and terminate the use of United States Armed the courage to be their voice. Forces to engage in hostilities in or against children—have again taken to the Now, I am glad that the United Iran. All points of order against consider- streets of Tehran. Only this time, their States and Iran have taken a step back ation of the concurrent resolution are anger wasn’t directed at their own from the brink of war, but what we waived. The amendment printed in the re- leaders; it was directed at the United heard from the President yesterday port of the Committee on Rules accom- States of —all because of the was more of the same bluster. It is panying this resolution shall be considered President’s unilateral decision. clear, even after the briefing by the ad- as adopted. The concurrent resolution, as Madam Speaker, that is what hap- ministration yesterday that many of amended, shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the con- pens when monumental decisions of us attended, that he has no clue at current resolution, as amended, are waived. war and peace are made in a vacuum all—none—about what could come The previous question shall be considered as with no regard for the consequences. next. ordered on the concurrent resolution, as Things usually don’t go very well. Now, make no mistake: The world is amended, to adoption without intervening Rather than protect our national se- less safe because of Trump’s chaotic motion or demand for division of the ques- curity and stabilize the region, Presi- foreign policy. The impacts of his tion except two hours of debate equally di- dent Trump’s reckless decision to strikes are still reverberating in the re- vided and controlled by the chair and rank- strike Soleimani united Iran. It has led gion and across the world, and we can- ing minority member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. to retaliatory strikes on two bases not sit silently by. SEC. 2. Section 7 of the War Powers Resolu- used by U.S. and coalition forces in The Constitution makes the Presi- tion (50 U.S.C. 1546) shall not apply during Iraq, and it has put our troops and dip- dent Commander in Chief, but it gives the remainder of the One Hundred Sixteenth lomats serving overseas in greater dan- only Congress the power to declare Congress to a measure respecting Iran. ger. war. The Founders knew that decisions The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- Now, make no mistake: This decision of this magnitude required consulta- tleman from Massachusetts is recog- has endangered all Americans every- tion between the branches of govern- nized for 1 hour. where. Hardliners are emboldened; 4,000 ment, no matter who is in the White

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:59 Jan 09, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K09JA7.022 H09JAPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE January 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H79 House, no matter who controls the ma- mined gaps between them that would On January 2, 2020, acting on intel- jority on Capitol Hill. either deny power to a President or to ligence of imminent threat to Amer- Our Democrats don’t want war with the Congress, one at the expense of the ican interests, and in response to the Iran; most Republicans don’t want war other. persistent attack by Iranian-backed with Iran; and the American people In Federalist Number 69, Alexander entities, the United States military certainly don’t want a war with Iran. I Hamilton argued the President’s power killed General . think that would be catastrophic. We resides only in the direction of the Soleimani was the long-time leader of should be stopping costly, endless , military as placed by law at his com- the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps not creating new ones. mand. Presidents have long argued Quds Force. But whatever you believe, have the that their role as Commander in Chief, The Iran Revolutionary Guard is a courage of your conviction, have the coupled with their inherent authority U.S.-designated terrorist organization. courage to vote, and that is what the over foreign affairs, grants them the It has been supporting proxy forces underlying War Powers Resolution is power to engage the Armed Forces, throughout the Middle East and at- all about. Congress needs to authorize short of war, as they see fit. tacking United States interests and al- any additional hostilities with Iran. Since the founding of our country, lies for over a decade. Madam Speaker, these decisions the Supreme Court has ruled both that Soleimani previously operated under aren’t easy. I understand that. There is the President enjoys greater discretion strict security but, in recent years, he no more consequential vote than decid- when acting with respect to matters of has moved much more freely and open- ing whether to send men and women off foreign affairs and, that absent an au- ly, believing that the United States did to war and into harm’s way. We weigh thorization of action during wartime, not have the willpower to be able to at- that decision knowing that, despite our any action by the President was void. tack him. His atrocities include the hopes and prayers, lives are lost in Despite the struggle to maintain the deaths of hundreds of Americans and combat. separation of powers with regard to en- the attempted assassination of a Saudi gaging our Armed Forces, the motiva- b 1245 diplomat in the United States, among tion underlying the inclusion in the other things. Mothers and fathers could lose their Constitution of these powers for both President Obama’s former Secretary children. Kids could be forced to grow the President and the Congress con- of Homeland Security, Secretary Jeh up without a parent. tinues to this day: The desire to pro- Johnson, stated that General But when we were sworn in, each of tect and defend the United States, its Soleimani was a legitimate military us took an oath to defend the Constitu- persons, and its assets. target. tion, and that means wrestling with Congress passed the War Powers Res- I do want to be clear. The last thing this very tough decision when nec- olution in 1973, largely in response to that I want to see and I suspect anyone essary. The only question now is the experiences in Korea and Vietnam. in this body wants to see is our men whether we have the guts to uphold The War Powers Resolution authorizes and women committed to another con- that oath. the engagement of the forces of the flict in the Middle East. We want those Madam Speaker, with the Middle United States in hostilities when: conflicts to end, as does the President. East held captive to the whims of a There is a ; or there But, Madam Speaker, today the reckless President, and with the Com- exists a specific statutory authoriza- world is a safer place without General mander in Chief without a clue, I pray tion; or a national emergency created Soleimani. And who would want him to that we, in Congress, have that cour- by attack upon the United States, its come back? age. territories or possessions, or its Armed Despite the disagreement in how fur- On behalf of our troops, their fami- Forces. ther to engage in the Middle East, in lies, and the American people, I urge To assess the current situation, let’s the country of Iran, be it militarily or my colleagues to support this rule and examine what has led us to this point. diplomatically, the last thing we the underlying resolution. In June of 2019, Iran shot down a sur- should be doing is broadcasting our Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- veillance aircraft that was flying over plans to the enemy. ance of my time. international waters near the Strait of By passing this War Powers Resolu- Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I Hormuz. This was an unmanned aerial tion, directing the President to remove yield myself such time as I may con- drone. United States Armed Forces from hos- sume. At the time, President Trump was tilities with Iran, a point that is, in I thank Mr. MCGOVERN for yielding advised by his military advisers to itself in contention, we are effectively me the customary 30 minutes. strike back, but the President opted telling the Iranian mullahs that it is Today, we consider H. Con. Res. 83 or, not to strike back because it would okay to push forward with their ag- technically, we are considering the rule have resulted in Iranian casualties, and gressive posturing. Rather than stating to consider H. Con. Res. 83, a resolution he felt he could not justify creation of what the President cannot do, perhaps to remove the United States Armed human casualties because of the loss of we should be authorizing what the Forces from hostilities in Iran. a machine. I agree with the President President can do. But the thing is, we are not engaged in that decision. I think his restraint Last night, in the Rules Committee, in hostilities in Iran. Once again, we was remarkable, but, certainly, exem- it became clear that both Republicans are considering a measure that will plary. and Democrats agree that the world is have no force of law. This is a non- In September of 2019, Iranian cruise a safer place without General binding concurrent resolution. missiles struck nearly 20 targets of Soleimani, and any war with Iran There was some debate in the Rules critical energy infrastructure in Saudi needs to be authorized by Congress Committee last night on whether a Arabia. This disrupted a significant seemed to be general agreement. concurrent resolution under the War portion of Saudi oil production. Democrats want to maintain the sep- Powers Resolution is, in fact, non- In December of 2019, Iranian-backed aration of powers, as do I, but the ques- binding. But in the Senate, a joint res- forces in Iraq targeted military facili- tion is, to what extent are we jeopard- olution has been introduced, making it ties where United States forces were izing our safety? likely that this House Concurrent Res- co-located. I believe Congress does need to au- olution will go no further than the ac- On December 27, an Iranian-backed thorize military action and maintain tion today. Hezbollah group, a U.S.-designated for- the separation of powers as intended by The Constitution grants Congress the eign terrorist organization, attacked a the Founders, but we don’t need to power to declare war. The Constitution base in northern Iraq, and they killed a broadcast it to the world. also designates the President as the U.S. contractor and wounded four U.S. While we may be divided on the need Commander in Chief of the Armed servicemembers. for this resolution, let us recognize the Forces. This sets up a conflict. The The United States responded, and it privilege that we enjoy each and every courts have not delineated the bound- launched a retaliatory air strike in day, being able to stand in this House aries of these authorities or deter- Iraq and . and debate these issues without fear of

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:59 Jan 09, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K09JA7.024 H09JAPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE H80 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 9, 2020 retribution of our government. Those As a Member of Congress, one of our Let’s submit something to the com- protesters in Iran did not enjoy that most sacred votes is our vote to declare mittee of jurisdiction, which is actu- freedom. They cut off the internet and war. We, therefore, have an obligation ally the Foreign Affairs Committee. eliminated those protesters. That is to study the evidence and share con- We have a deadline or a timeline laid why you don’t see them anymore. cerns about the administration’s deci- out in the War Powers Act; they could Madam Speaker, I urge opposition to sion to engage in hostilities against operate within that. Within a matter of this rule, and I reserve the balance of Iran. We have a duty to question its a few weeks we would then, in a very my time. strategy, or lack of strategy, moving bipartisan manner, bring something to Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I forward. the floor. yield myself such time as I may con- My expertise, Madam Speaker, is not Let’s contrast that with how this sume. foreign policy, but I know Iran. I lived particular resolution came to the floor. Let me just respond to the gentleman there. I worked there as a Peace Corps We got it about 45 minutes before the when he says that this is a concurrent volunteer many years ago. I have been Rules Committee meeting. It is written resolution here in the House and it is a student of Iranian history and poli- in the Speaker’s Office; rewritten in nonbinding and merely symbolic. Let tics for more than 3 decades. the Speaker’s Office, and it is sent me point out to him that the law There is no question about Iran’s role down here to make a political point, states clearly that this sort of resolu- in sponsoring terrorism. Soleimani not to actually do something that tion reins in the President. The War himself was responsible for the deaths would substantively restore congres- Powers Resolution requires the Presi- of hundreds of Americans and thou- sional war-making power. This is all dent to stop using American forces and sands around the world. He actively politics; that is all it is. hostilities if Congress so directs by worked to foment instability across b 1300 concurrent resolution. the Middle East on behalf of the gov- Moreover, the Constitution gives war The political aim here is for our ernment of Iran. friends to suggest that the President powers to the Congress, not to the Nevertheless, the President of the President. And if both Houses pass this either wants war with Iran or has acted United States, in his response to Iran, resolution, it is a clear statement that hastily, precipitously, and recklessly. announced that he would commit a war Congress is denying the President the Neither of those things is true. crime by targeting Iran’s extraor- authority to wage war, and that the Frankly, our latest dispute with Iran dinary cultural sites. War crimes. No President must come to Congress for begins with the decision by this admin- matter who is President of the United istration appropriately to withdraw an authorization prior to further hos- States, when he or she indicates that from the very ill-advised Iranian nu- tilities. And by the way, we are not just pur- they are prepared to commit a war clear deal, a deal, by the way, that the suing a concurrent resolution. Senator crime, then Congress better step up majority of this House and the major- and reassert its authority under the ity of the op- KAINE of Virginia, over in the Senate, is pursuing a ; so we are Constitution. posed, but President Obama went covering all bases here because we are We must demand that the President ahead with it anyway. What has been the Iranian response deeply concerned that we may end up justify any act, and that is what this to our withdrawal? A series of provo- in a war inadvertently here, and that resolution does. That is why I support cations to which, as my good friend Mr. Congress will have no role in it. it. BURGESS pointed out, the President, by Again, I would urge the gentleman to Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, let and large, has acted with remarkable read the War Powers Resolution. I have me yield myself 30 seconds for the pur- restraint. Let’s just go through some of a copy here, and the accompanying re- pose of response before I yield to Mr. COLE. those provocations. port when this resolution was signed First, it was attacks on ships in the into law. The report, with regard to And my response would be, had the gentleman from Massachusetts yielded Strait of Hormuz in the gulf. What was consultation, is crystal clear that con- the President’s response? Well, let’s or- sultation is meant prior to introducing to me for a question, my question was going to be, was he asking for unani- ganize an international flotilla to de- our forces and engaging into hos- fend these ships. He did not attack tilities, which is something the Presi- mous consent to change the concurrent resolution to a joint resolution such Iran. dent didn’t even notify us of. Next, as my good friend from Texas that it could align and harmonize with And in terms of the President’s exer- pointed out, we see strikes into Iraq the Senate activity and then, there- cising this remarkable restraint, I just itself. Particularly, we see an attack fore, maybe accomplish something. But have a very different opinion. Have you on Saudi Arabian oil refineries. What is read his Twitter account? Have you he didn’t. the President’s response? Well, let’s Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to been listening to him on TV as he not attack Iran. Let’s send defensive brags about the shiny, expensive weap- the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. capabilities from our country there and ons we have that he would love to use? COLE), the ranking member of the protect those sites. The rhetoric, the threat to bomb cul- Rules Committee. Then, we see attacks on American tural sites, which is a war crime? I Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I want to forces in Iraq. What is the President’s mean, the gentleman may be totally at thank my good friend, Dr. BURGESS, for response? As my friend pointed out, ease with all of that, but I am not; and yielding. let’s go after the Shia militias. Let’s most of the American people are scared I rise, Madam Speaker, in reluctant not attack Iran. as hell of this President’s rhetoric opposition, quite frankly, to both the Finally, after that, when the Presi- when it comes to a potential war with rule and the underlying legislation. dent responds, we see another attack. Iran. As my good friend, Chairman MCGOV- In that attack, as my friend pointed All we are saying here is that we ERN knows, we have actually worked out, an American contractor died, and ought to stand up for this institution, together to try and expand and reclaim four American servicemembers were and stand with the Constitution, and war-making authority for the Congress wounded. Again, the President re- make it very clear that if the President of the United States, and I would offer sponds by attacking Shia . wants to go to war in Iran, that he and continue to work with him in that Then, the next response, our embassy needs to come to Congress to get that partnership. I think that is something is assaulted. Thank goodness, no loss of declaration, to get that authorization. that needs to be continued. life, but I think the President had had Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to I also think we have no difference enough. the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. that if we were to engage in a war with By the way, just after that assault SHALALA), a member of the Rules Com- Iraq, it would require congressional au- happens, who magically shows up in mittee. thorization. And frankly, last night, in violation of a U.N. resolution in Iraq? Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I the Rules Committee, I offered a proc- Our good friend General Soleimani, a rise in strong support of the War Pow- ess whereby we could work together in designated terrorist for 13 years, a per- ers Resolution to limit the President’s a bipartisan fashion; that is, let’s just son who has killed hundreds of Ameri- military actions regarding Iran. follow the War Powers Resolution. cans, wounded thousands more, not to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Jan 10, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K09JA7.026 H09JAPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE January 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H81 mention the tens of thousands across By late Thursday, the president had gone Other officials said it was unclear whether the region. What does the President for the extreme option. Top Pentagon offi- Iran was dispersing its ballistic missile do? The President takes out a legiti- cials were stunned. units—the heart of the Iranian military—to Mr. Trump made the decision, senior offi- avoid American attack, or was mobilizing mate terrorist target. In Iran? No, the cials said on Saturday, despite disputes in the units for a major strike against Amer- President doesn’t want to do that. He the administration about the significance of ican targets or allies in the region in retalia- does it in Iraq. what some officials said was a new stream of tion for General Suleimani’ s death. Now, how anybody could have any intelligence that warned of threats to Amer- On Capitol Hill, Democrats voiced growing doubt about the President’s desire to, ican embassies, consulates and military per- suspicions about the intelligence that led to number one, strike at a terrorist, and, sonnel in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. General the killing. At the White House, officials for- number two, avoid war, I will never Suleimani had just completed a tour of his mally notified Congress of a war powers reso- forces in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, and was lution with what the administration said know. was a legal justification for the strike. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The planning an ‘‘imminent’’ attack that could claim hundreds of lives, those officials said. At Fort Bragg, N.C., some 3,500 soldiers, time of the gentleman has expired. ‘‘Days, weeks,’’ Gen. Mark A. Milley, the one of the largest rapid deployments in dec- Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on ades, are bound for the Middle East. General Suleimani, who was considered the yield an additional 1 minute to the Friday, when asked how imminent any at- most important person in Iran after Aya- gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. COLE). tacks could be, without offering more detail tollah Khamenei, was a commanding general other than to say that new information Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, passing of a sovereign government. The last time the this resolution, as my good friend Dr. about unspecified plotting was ‘‘clear and United States killed a major military leader BURGESS suggested, sends the wrong unambiguous.’’ in a foreign country was during World War But some officials voiced private skep- message to the wrong people at pre- II, when the American military shot down ticism about the rationale for a strike on the plane carrying the Japanese admiral cisely the wrong time. General Suleimani, who was responsible for The President did the right thing Isoroku Yamamoto. the deaths of hundreds of American troops But administration officials are playing here. He has acted in a restrained man- over the years. According to one United down General Suleimani’s status as a part of ner. He has endured, and our country States official, the new intelligence indi- the Iranian state, suggesting his title gave has endured, endless provocations. cated ‘‘a normal Monday in the Middle him cover for terrorist activities. In the days We should reject this rule. Frankly, East’’—Dec. 30—and General Suleimani’s since his death, they have sought to describe we should have a regular process where travels amounted to ‘‘business as usual.’’ the strike as more in line with the killing of we actually go back to the committee That official described the intelligence as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the Islamic State thin and said that General Suleimani’s at- of jurisdiction. We should absolutely leader, who died in October in an American tack was not imminent because of commu- commando raid in Syria. reject the underlying resolution. nications the United States had between Administration officials insisted they did Before I conclude, I want to mention Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali not anticipate sweeping retaliation from I know my friend is very sincere in his Khamenei, and General Suleimani showing Iran, in part because of divisions in the Ira- opinions on expanding congressional that the ayatollah had not yet approved any nian leadership. But Mr. Trump’s two prede- war power. There is no doubt in my plans by the general for an attack. The aya- cessors—Presidents George W. Bush and mind about it. We have worked on that tollah, according to the communications, —had rejected killing General before. I look forward to working with had asked General Suleimani to come to Suleimani as too provocative. Tehran for further discussions at least a General Suleimani had been in Mr. my friend on that issue again. This is week before his death. Trump’s sights since the beginning of the ad- the wrong vehicle, the wrong place, the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Vice ministration, although it was a Dec. 27 rock- wrong time, the wrong consequences President Mike Pence were two of the most et attack on an Iraqi military base outside for our own country to pass this kind hawkish voices arguing for a response to Ira- Kirkuk, which left an American civilian con- of legislation. nian aggression, according to administration tractor dead, that set the killing in motion. officials. Mr. Pence’s office helped run herd General Milley and Mr. Esper traveled on Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, let Sunday to Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Trump’s Palm me say to the gentleman from Okla- on meetings and conference calls held by of- ficials in the run-up to the strike. Beach resort, a day after officials presented homa that I look forward to working Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper and Gen- the president with an initial list of options with him on the war powers and other eral Milley declined to comment for this ar- for how to deal with escalating violence issues related to the executive branch ticle, but General Milley’s spokeswoman, against American targets in Iraq. encroaching on legislative powers in Col. DeDe Halfhill, said, without elaborating, The options included strikes on Iranian the future. I hope we can work in a bi- that ‘‘some of the characterizations being as- ships or missile facilities or against Iranian- serted by other sources are false’’ and that backed militia groups in Iraq. The Pentagon partisan way and make some progress also tacked on the choice of targeting Gen- she would not discuss conversations between here. eral Suleimani, mainly to make other op- I include in the RECORD a January 4 General Milley and the president. The fallout from Mr. Trump’s targeted tions seem reasonable. Mr. Trump chose strikes against militia New York Times article entitled ‘‘As killing is now underway. On Saturday in groups. On Sunday, the Pentagon announced Tensions With Iran Escalated, Trump Iraq, the American military was on alert as that airstrikes approved by the president Opted for Most Extreme Measure.’’ tens of thousands of pro-Iranian fighters had struck three locations in Iraq and two in marched through the streets of Baghdad and [From , Jan. 4, 2020] Syria controlled by the group, Kataib calls accelerated to eject the United States AS TENSIONS WITH IRAN ESCALATED, TRUMP Hezbollah. from the country. United States Central OPTED FOR MOST EXTREME MEASURE Jonathan Hoffman, the chief Pentagon Command, which oversees American mili- spokesman, said the targets included weap- (By Helene Cooper, Eric Schmitt, Maggie tary operations in the Middle East, said Haberman and Rukmini Callimachi) ons storage facilities and command posts there were two rocket attacks near Iraqi used to attack American and partner forces. WASHINGTON.—In the chaotic days leading bases that host American troops, but no one About two dozen militia fighters were killed. to the death of Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, was injured. ‘‘These were on remote sites,’’ General Iran’s most powerful commander, top Amer- In Iran, the ayatollah vowed ‘‘forceful re- Milley told reporters on Friday in his Pen- ican military officials put the option of kill- venge’’ as the country mourned the death of tagon office. ‘‘There was no collateral dam- ing him—which they viewed as the most ex- General Suleimani. age.’’ treme response to recent Iranian-led vio- In Palm Beach, Fla., Mr. Trump lashed But the Iranians viewed the strikes as out lence in Iraq—on the menu they presented to back, promising to strike 52 sites across of proportion to their attack on the Iraqi President Trump. Iran—representing the number of American base and Iraqis, largely member’s of Iranian- They didn’t think he would take it. In the hostages taken by Iran in 1979—if Iran at- backed militias, staged violent protests out- wars waged since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, tacked Americans or American interests. On side the American Embassy in Baghdad. Mr. Pentagon officials have often offered improb- Saturday night, Mr. Trump warned on Twit- Trump, who aides said had on his mind the able options to presidents to make other pos- ter that some sites were ‘‘at a very high specter of the 2012 attacks on the American sibilities appear more palatable. level & important to Iran & the Iranian cul- compound in Benghazi, Libya, became in- After initially rejecting the Suleimani op- ture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL creasingly angry as he watched television tion on Dec. 28 and authorizing airstrikes on BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD.’’ images of pro-Iranian demonstrators storm- an Iranian-backed Shiite militia group in- The president issued those warnings after ing the embassy. Aides said he worried that stead, a few days later Mr. Trump watched, American spy agencies on Saturday detected no response would look weak after repeated fuming, as television reports showed Iranian- that Iranian ballistic missile units across threats by the United States. backed attacks on the American Embassy in the country had gone to a heightened state When Mr. Trump chose the option of kill- Baghdad, according to Defense Department of readiness, a United States official said on ing General Suleimani, top military offi- and administration officials. Saturday night. cials, flabbergasted, were immediately

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Jan 10, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K09JA7.028 H09JAPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE H82 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 9, 2020 alarmed about the prospect of Iranian retal- Mrs. LESKO. Madam Speaker, I Soleimani was ‘‘clear, unambiguous in- iatory strikes on American troops in the re- thank the gentleman for yielding. telligence indicating a significant cam- gion. It is unclear if General Milley or Mr. First, I thank President Trump for paign of violence against the United Esper pushed back on the president’s deci- making a decisive action to protect States in the days, weeks, and sion. Over the next several days, the military’s Americans. Thank you. months,’’ and that the administration Special Operations Command looked for an The world now knows that Obama’s would have been ‘‘culpably negligent’’ opportunity to hit General Suleimani, who appeasement strategy policies, includ- if it did not act. operated in the open and was treated like a ing giving billions of dollars to Iran, This is a man who has been in the celebrity in many places he visited in the are over. It didn’t work. The world military for 40 years under different Middle East. Military and intelligence offi- knows that when President Trump says administrations, and you are going to cials said the strike drew on information we are not going to cross this red line, doubt what he has to say? from secret informants, electronic inter- they know he means it. I thank President Trump for pro- cepts, reconnaissance aircraft and other sur- veillance tools. In Rules Committee last night and tecting American citizens. The option that was eventually approved again today, I listened as my Demo- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Mem- depended on who would greet General cratic colleagues claim what this reso- bers are reminded to address their re- Suleimani at his expected arrival on Friday lution is all about. They claim that it marks to the Chair. at Baghdad International Airport. If he was is about making sure Congress exerts Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I met by Iraqi government officials allied with its authority to approve future war include in the RECORD a January 8 Van- Americans, one American official said, the against Iran. But that is not what this ity Fair article entitled ‘‘There Is No strike would be called off. But the official resolution does. Strategy: Diplomats React to Trump’s said it was a ‘‘clean party,’’ meaning mem- bers of Kataib Hezbollah, including its lead- In fact, let’s read the title of this res- Erratic, Narcissistic Iran Policy.’’ er, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Mr. Trump au- olution. It says: ‘‘Directing the Presi- [From Vanity Fair, Jan. 8, 2020] thorized the killing at about 5 p.m. on dent pursuant to section 5(c) of the ‘‘THERE IS NO STRATEGY’’: DIPLOMATS REACT Thursday, officials said. War Powers Resolution to terminate TO TRUMP’S ERRATIC, NARCISSISTIC IRAN On Friday, missiles fired from an American the use of United States Armed Forces POLICY MQ–9 Reaper blew up General Suleimani’s to engage in hostilities in or against (By Abigail Tracy) convoy as it departed the airport. Iran.’’ It doesn’t say anything about fu- After the American drone strike and Iran’s Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I ture war. measured retaliation, some State vets worry yield 1 minute to the gentleman from We do not currently have U.S. Armed that Trump is a wild card, the biggest dan- New York (Mr. MORELLE), a member of Forces engaged in hostilities in or ger: ‘‘From a political standpoint,’’ says one, the Rules Committee. against Iran. If Democrats are serious ‘‘they have behaved a hell of a lot more ra- Mr. MORELLE. Madam Speaker, I about making sure Congress has its say tionally and predictably than we have.’’ thank the distinguished chair and my In the aftermath of Iran’s strike against in declaring war, they would follow the two airbases, in retaliation for the drone colleague from the Rules Committee, statutory guidelines as described by strike that killed Qasem Soleimani last Mr. MCGOVERN, for yielding me this Representative COLE. They are already week, a sigh of relief was breathed, but for minute. in there. Go to the Foreign Affairs what? That there had been no casualties We begin the new year in turbulent Committee. from Iran’s cruise missiles was a huge reason and uncertain times, particularly with Instead, Democrats have chosen to to be thankful. (U.S. officials have since sug- regard to Iran and the Middle East. short circuit the process yet again to gested this was intentional.) But there was Protecting our national interests and achieve a partisan objective. also a sense of relief that Trump had stepped securing the safety and security of the back—as if he were the wild card. The devel- As a member of the Rules Com- opments laid bare what diplomats I spoke American people must be the highest mittee, I saw the language of the reso- with identified as a discomforting reality in priorities of our government. I am lution 45 minutes before the Rules the Trump era. ‘‘Up is down and down is up,’’ gravely concerned the recent actions of Committee started. This is not a seri- a former U.S. ambassador in the region told the Trump administration have desta- ous effort for such a serious subject. me, noting Iran’s decision to notify the bilized the region and undermined Here are the facts. Iran and Iranian- Iraqis ahead of the attack on Tuesday and those priorities. backed militias have escalated their Mohammad Javad Zarif’s message of detente Article I of the United States Con- attacks. in the face of Trump’s bluster. ‘‘Who stitution vests in the House and Senate The SPEAKER pro tempore. The would’ve imagined that it’s the American president who is a crazy person gunning for the responsibility to declare war, to ap- time of the gentlewoman has expired. war and the mullahs who are being careful propriate money for the national de- Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I and deliberate and cautious .... They have fense, and, in doing so, to ensure no yield an additional 30 seconds to the done terrible things—I am not going to de- President employs military action gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. fend the fact that the country holds hostages without careful consultation of and au- LESKO). and has absolutely supported terrorist thorization by Congress. Mrs. LESKO. Madam Speaker, in groups and those sorts of things—but from a That is why it is so important that June 2019, Iran shot down a U.S. drone. political standpoint, they have behaved a we take action to reaffirm these re- Trump said, no, we are not going to re- hell of a lot more rationally and predictably sponsibilities by passing the resolution than we have,’’ this person added. ‘‘Do you taliate because no U.S. lives were lost. take comfort in the fact that Iran is the ra- before us, which I am proud to cospon- Iran attacked Saudi oil fields. Iran- tional actor or does that scare the bejesus sor. backed militia killed a U.S. citizen and out of you even more?’’ The use of United States Armed wounded four troops. Then, an Iran- A former Foreign Service Officer who Forces to engage in hostilities against backed militia attacked the U.S. Em- worked on Iran under Barack Obama echoed Iran must come only after thoughtful bassy. the point. ‘‘I think it is interesting that deliberation and approval by Congress. Soleimani was a terrorist designated [Iran has taken] every opportunity to show As we move forward, we must all seek by the Obama administration. that they’re actually more responsible than to achieve a peaceful resolution that the U.S. president in executing this con- Let me read very quickly what the flict,’’ this person said. ‘‘It boggles the mind protects American interests at home Joint Chiefs of Staff have said. He has to me that we are almost more concerned, I and abroad. had 40 years of military experience think, about our own president than we are I join with all Americans in praying under all different administrations. about the way others may retaliate, which is for the safety of our courageous serv- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The really scary.’’ icemembers and urge my colleagues to time of the gentlewoman has again ex- Diplomats I spoke with are clear-eyed in support this rule and the underlying pired. their belief that Iran’s retaliation for resolution. Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I Soleimani is not complete; they are bracing Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the for—if not further military attacks—subse- quent responses, such as cyberattacks or yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. even kidnappings. To a fault, they, too, are from Arizona (Mrs. LESKO), a valuable LESKO). not defending Iran’s past malfeasance. And member of the House Committee on Mrs. LESKO. General Milley said the Trump’s position on the wake of the attacks Rules. trigger for the drone strike that killed is welcomed by veterans of Foggy Bottom.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Jan 10, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A09JA7.006 H09JAPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE January 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H83 ‘‘President Trump made the right decision the time of intense diplomacy, where around and killed the second-in-command of not to respond to Iran’s missile attacks. the world leaders are figuring out, ‘If you do Iran. The American people, as well as There were no American casualties and the this, I do that’ and ’What will be the re- our troops, are in more jeopardy. Iranians are clearly signaling they don’t sponse of X if we do Y,’ ’’ a former senior U.S. In 2002, I was here, and I offer these want a war,’’ Nicholas Burns, the former am- official told me. But, this person added, ‘‘The bassador to NATO, told me. The problem is only ones not taking part are the Ameri- words from my statement on the floor that Trump has thus far failed to chart a cans.’’ Instead, ‘‘America is content with a regarding President Bush. ‘‘Always a path forward with Iran. Instead, he has shut- two-dimensional policy: We take this act, we question of the greatest importance, tled between slamming Iran, slighting his stand still and watch what happens. The our decision today,’’ in 2002, ‘‘is further predecessor’s signature Iran nuclear deal, other countries are at least trying to be weighted by the fact that we are being and patting himself on the back for the three-dimensional, adding the element of asked to sanction a new foreign policy death of Soleimani and Abu Bakr al- time, projecting to the not-too-distant fu- doctrine that gives a President the Baghdadi, the former leader of the Islamic ture which advantages are to be gained.’’ power to launch a unilateral and pre- State whom the United States killed in Oc- In an ideal world, Burns said, Trump would tober. ‘‘His speech was confusing about his open a reliable diplomatic channel to emptive first strike against Iraq before strategy. It is not at all clear if he intends to Tehran. ‘‘We should want to be able to de- we have utilized our diplomatic op- contain Iran through deterrence or to weak- liver tough and clear messages to its govern- tions.’’ en its government and seek regime change,’’ ment. And it would be smart to offer Iran a I further went on to say that ‘‘our Burns added. ‘‘He owes the American public, diplomatic off-ramp so that we can end the own intelligence agencies report that the Congress, and our allies a much more possibility of a wider war that is in neither there is currently little chance of specific and consistent game plan. Other- of our interests,’’ he said. ‘‘Trump’s disin- chemical and biological attack from wise, it will be difficult for him to gain do- terest in real diplomacy is a significant dis- mestic and allied support.’’ Saddam Hussein on U.S. forces or terri- advantage for the U.S.’’ tories.’’ As I reported in the aftermath of the Confronting a president who has repeat- Soleimani’s killing last week, a chief con- edly demonstrated a desire to dive into mili- Proven right, endless war, contin- cern within the diplomatic ranks was that tary conflict before diplomacy, Congress is uous loss of life of our treasured young the Trump administration, still lacking a co- grappling with how to restrain Trump. Cali- men and women and many injured— herent foreign policy, had failed to ade- fornia congressman told me the this resolution and rule are imperative quately contemplate and prepare for the attacks on Tuesday increase ‘‘the urgency to assert constitutional authority to international and Iranian response to the for Congress to act. We need to engage in de- airstrike against the top Iranian general. In- ensure the protection of the American escalation and a cease-fire to end the cycle deed, the Trump administration certainly people. of violence.’’ Currently on the table are a few appeared to be caught flat-footed when the Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I measures House Democrats hope can curb Iraqi parliament voted to expel U.S. troops yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Trump’s authority to attack Iran. Among from the country over the weekend. While them are a War Powers Resolution and a bill Georgia (Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT), a valuable asserting that the killing of Soleimani left drafted by Khanna and Senator Bernie Sand- member of the Armed Services Com- Americans safer, Secretary of State Mike ers that would defund any offensive action in mittee. Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper Iran and require any such action to have Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. have yet to detail the imminent threat they Congressional authorization. Madam Speaker, I thank the gen- claim the Iranian general posed to U.S. in- Khanna told me that the Democratic cau- terests. And Trump’s remarks on Wednesday tleman for yielding. cus is unified and that he has been in talks arguably raised more questions than they I join my colleagues in expressing the with Speaker Nancy Pelosi about timing and answered. As the former ambassador in the will to have an honest debate of the process. The House is expected to vote on a region put it, ‘‘There is no strategy. It is sat- War Powers Act, should the majority War Powers Resolution, after which they isfying Trump’s ego at every step. It’s all it would push his bill with Senator Sanders. party choose to do so. is for us, there is zero strategy and it’s all Currently, House leadership is figuring how Before I move any further, I submit strategy on Iran’s side.’’ to craft a War Powers Resolution in a way for the RECORD a report from the Direc- Beyond his ‘‘America First’’ tagline, that would prevent Republicans from attach- tor of National Intelligence on Barack Trump has failed to formulate anything re- ing a Motion to Recommit, which could pre- sembling a coherent foreign policy. Rather, Obama’s use of drones, an average of 67 vent it from reaching the Senate floor—as he has a domestic policy that influences drone strikes a year over his first 7 was the case with the War Powers Resolution American posturing abroad. The clearest years in office, killing an average of six on Yemen. ‘‘That is why it is taking some through line in Trump’s various foreign pol- enemy combatants a week, wherein the time,’’ Khanna explained. ‘‘It is taking time icy decisions can largely be summed up as to figure out the procedural mechanisms majority said absolutely nothing about ‘‘the opposite of what Obama did.’’ But this with the parliamentarian in the House and it at the time. lack of coherence is particularly troubling in the Senate so that what we send over to the SUMMARY OF INFORMATION REGARDING U.S. the Middle East and is amplified by the re- Senate doesn’t lose its War Powers privi- COUNTERTERRORISM STRIKES OUTSIDE ality that he’s surrounded by hawks with leged status. If it loses its privileged status, AREAS OF ACTIVE HOSTILITIES hard-ons for toppling the Iranian regime, then [Mitch] McConnell would never call it like Pompeo. ‘‘The most frustrating thing is In accordance with the President’s direc- up.’’ that this is entirely of his own making. You tion and consistent with the President’s think about where we were less than five Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I commitment to providing as much informa- years ago, when we got to the deal. Things yield myself such time as I may con- tion as possible to the American people about U.S. counterterrorism activities, the certainly weren’t perfect by any means. sume to respond to the gentlewoman. I They were still causing a lot of harm and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) is re- urge the gentlewoman, who read a cou- leasing today a summary of information pro- doing things against our interests in the re- ple of lines from the resolution, as I gion, but compare that to where we are vided to the DNI about both the number of today and it is so entirely avoidable,’’ the urge all of my colleagues, to read the strikes taken by the U.S. Government former Foreign Service officer told me. ‘‘The entire resolution. against terrorist targets outside areas of ac- lack of a strategy continues to be the most This is pretty simple. Basically, it tive hostilities and the assessed number of dangerous thing we can do in the Middle says that if we go to war with Iran, combatant and non-combatant deaths result- East.’’ Congress ought to have a say in it. ing from those strikes. ‘‘Areas of active hos- A former high-ranking State Department tilities’’ currently include Afghanistan, Iraq, Congress ought to do what the Con- and Syria. official expressed similar dismay. ‘‘Foreign stitution requires us to do. SUMMARY OF U.S. COUNTERTERRORISM policy isn’t well-done on impulse. Because so I don’t know why that is a radical much is intertwined .... It requires the STRIKES OUTSIDE AREAS OF ACTIVE HOS- ability to understand the trade-offs and pos- idea, but if my friends want to go to TILITIES BETWEEN JANUARY 20, 2009 AND DE- sible longer-term impacts. Never easy. But war with Iran, they have to have the CEMBER 31, 2015 this team has no ability to do that,’’ they guts to come to the floor to debate it Total number of strikes against terrorist told me. ‘‘If I were a military family mem- and vote on it. targets outside areas of active hostilities: ber, I’d really worry that our troops are Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to 473. being sent out with no clear plan or mission. the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Combatant deaths: 2372–2581. Non-combatant deaths: 64–116. Not a comforting thought.’’ JACKSON LEE). If Trump really does have an appetite for The assessed range of non-combatant diplomacy, that’s undeniably a positive de- Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, deaths provided to the DNI reflects consider- velopment. Diplomats stress that now is the the President cannot unilaterally go to ation of credible reports of non-combatant time for it, and the Iranians do seem to be war with Iran, nor are we safer since deaths drawn from all-source information, signaling a desire deescalate. ‘‘Now we’re in January 2, 2020, after having targeted including reports from the media and non-

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Jan 10, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A09JA7.005 H09JAPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE H84 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 9, 2020 governmental organizations. The assessed tional self-defense. Thus, the U.S. Govern- their own Director of National Intel- range of non-combatant deaths includes ment may have reliable information that ligence, conducted hundreds of air- deaths for which there is an insufficient certain individuals are combatants, but are strikes, averaging more than six kills a basis for assessing that the deceased is a being counted as non-combatants by non- week between January 2009 and Decem- combatant. governmental organizations. For example, ber 2015, and that was in areas of non- U.S. GOVERNMENT POST-STRIKE REVIEW further analysis of an individual’s possible PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES membership in an organized armed group hostilities. That doesn’t even include The information that was provided to the may include, among other things: the extent Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, which are DNI regarding combatant and non-combat- to which an individual performs functions classified numbers. ant deaths is the result of processes that in- for the benefit of the group that are analo- Let’s just be honest about what this clude careful reviews of all strikes after they gous to those traditionally performed by is. This is another partisan attack are conducted to assess the effectiveness of members of a country’s armed forces; wheth- against the President of the United operations. These review processes have er that person is carrying out or giving or- States for killing General Soleimani, ders to others within the group; or whether evolved over time to ensure that they incor- who was a terrorist in an area where porate the best available all-source intel- that person has undertaken certain acts that ligence, media reporting, and other informa- reliably connote meaningful integration into the President had the absolute legal tion and may result in reassessments of the group. authority to operate. strikes if new information becomes available Second, according to information provided Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I that alters the original judgment. The large to the DNI, U.S. Government post-strike re- yield myself such time as I may con- volume of pre- and post-strike data available views involve the collection and analysis of sume to respond to the gentleman from to the U.S. Government can enable analysts multiple sources of intelligence before, dur- Georgia, who I have a great deal of re- to distinguish combatants from non-combat- ing, and after a strike, including video obser- spect for. vations, human sources and assets, signals ants, conduct detailed battle damage assess- Let’s be honest here. Many of us, ments, and separate reliable reporting from intelligence, geospatial intelligence, ac- terrorist propaganda or from media reports counts from local officials on the ground, contrary to what the gentleman just that may be based on inaccurate informa- and open source reporting. Information col- said, have been outspoken against uni- tion. lected before a strike is intended to provide lateral interventions by the executive DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN U.S. GOVERNMENT clarity regarding the number of individuals branch without notifying Congress, AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ASSESSMENTS at a strike location as well as whether the without seeking our approval on mili- individuals are engaged in terrorist activity. In releasing these figures, the U.S. Govern- tary authorization under Obama. I, for Post-strike collection frequently enables ment acknowledges that there are dif- one, was critical of his drone attacks. I U.S. Government analysts to confirm, among ferences between U.S. Government assess- other things, the number of individuals raised issues about our involvement in ments and reporting from non-governmental killed as well as their combatant status. The Syria. organizations. Reports from non-govern- information is then analyzed along with I include in the RECORD a statement mental organizations can include both aggre- other all-source intelligence reporting. This that I made, saying that Congress gate data regarding non-combatant deaths as combination of sources is unique and can well as case studies addressing particular should reconvene and debate and vote provide insights that are likely unavailable strikes, and generally rely on a combination on a resolution with regard to what the to non-governmental organizations. of media reporting and, in some instances, Obama administration was doing in Finally, non-governmental organizations’ field research conducted in areas of reported Libya. reports of counterterrorism strikes attrib- strikes. Although these organizations’ re- uted to the U.S. Government—particularly [Press Release, March 23, 2011] ports of non-combatant deaths resulting their identification of non-combatant CONGRESSMAN MCGOVERN STATEMENT ON from U.S. strikes against terrorist targets deaths—may be further complicated by the LIBYA outside areas of active hostilities vary wide- deliberate spread of misinformation by some ly, such reporting generally estimates sig- WASHINGTON, DC.—For several weeks now I actors, including terrorist organizations, in nificantly higher figures for non-combatant have been calling for an internationally-en- local media reports on which some non-gov- deaths than is indicated by U.S. Government forced no-fly-zone over Libya in order to pre- ernmental estimates rely. information. For instance, for the period be- vent Colonel Qadaffi from slaughtering his Although the U.S. Government has access tween January 20, 2009 and December 31, 2015, own people. I agree with President Obama to a wide range of information, the figures non-governmental organizations’ estimates that U.S. ground troops should not be com- released today should be considered in light range from more than 200 to slightly more mitted to this effort, and that our inter- of the inherent limitations on the ability to than 900 possible non-combatant deaths out- national partners should soon take the lead. determine the precise number of combatant side areas of active hostilities. Whether or not Qadaffi remains the leader of Consistent with the requirements applica- and non-combatant deaths given the non- Libya must, in the end, be up to the Libyan ble to future reporting under Section 3(b) of permissive environments in which these people. I am troubled about pressure to ex- the ‘‘United States Policy strikes often occur. The U.S. Government re- pand the military operation and the many on Pre- and Post-Strike Measures to Address mains committed to considering new, cred- unanswered questions about Libyan opposi- Civilian Casualties in U.S. Operations In- ible information regarding non-combatant tion forces. I urge the House leadership to volving the Use of Force,’’ the information deaths that may emerge and revising pre- call the Congress back into session as soon we are releasing today addresses general rea- vious assessments, as appropriate. as possible so that Congress can exercise its sons for discrepancies between post-strike Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. constitutional responsibility to clearly spell assessments from the United States Govern- Madam Speaker, if we want to have an out the mission and limits of U.S. military ment and credible reporting from non-gov- honest debate about the War Powers engagement in Libya. And I urge the Obama ernmental organizations regarding non-com- Administration to consult with Congress and Act, then let’s have an honest debate to engage us at every possible opportunity as batant deaths and does not address specific about the War Powers Act. incidents. There are a number of possible this crisis continues to unfold. reasons that these non-governmental organi- Why didn’t we hear anything from Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, zations’ reports of the number of noncombat- our colleagues on the other side of the some of us have been consistent on this ants killed may differ from the U.S. Govern- aisle about Libya when President through Democratic and Republican ment assessments, based on the information Barack Obama took action that led to administrations. I take great exception provided to the DNI. the death of Muammar Qadhafi? Why First, although there are inherent limita- when anybody tries to say that we are not Syria? Why not Yemen? Why is raising this issue just purely for polit- tions on determining the precise number of Iran individually spelled out in this combatant and non-combatant deaths, par- ical purposes. ticularly when operating in non-permissive resolution? For me, it is not. For me, I have been environments, the U.S. Government uses The only reason Iran is singled out in consistent on this through Democratic post-strike methodologies that have been re- this resolution is to take a political jab and Republican administrations. fined and honed over the years and that use at President Trump for utilizing an air- information that is generally unavailable to strike to take out General Soleimani, a b 1315 non-governmental organizations. The U.S. terrorist who was responsible for kill- Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I Government draws on all available informa- ing thousands of Americans, partner yield 1 minute to the gentleman from tion (including sensitive intelligence) to de- troops, and, yes, Iranians. Oregon (Mr. BLUMENAUER). termine whether an individual is part of a belligerent party fighting against the United While our colleagues are upset with Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, States in an armed conflict, taking a direct the use of airstrikes to kill General I appreciate my friend from Massachu- part in hostilities against the United States, Soleimani, I remind them that the setts setting the record straight. The or otherwise targetable in the exercise of na- Obama administration, according to war powers activity, the authorization

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:29 Jan 10, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A09JA7.003 H09JAPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE January 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H85 of military force has been an issue that formed penetrators; and thousands nouncing, so we are closer to a nuclear a number of us have been concerned maimed walking around the United Iran than we were before. with, Republican and Democrat, going States, walking around the Halls of All of this has happened when the back to the Clinton administration and this Congress. That is Soleimani. likelihood of Iran’s further responding activity in the Balkans, but what my But they don’t know him because is grave. friend from Massachusetts pointed out this body, the executive branch, Repub- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The is that this reckless act by the Presi- licans and Democrats, have sent their time of the gentleman has expired. dent of the United States actually young men and women to war without Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I makes us less safe. dealing with this killer, this terrorist, yield an additional 15 seconds to the With one act, he has been able to because it was too hard, too hard in gentleman. unite the opposition in Iran. Remem- Iraq to deal with Iran, because it might Mr. WELCH. Madam Speaker, the ber, they were demonstrating in the make them mad, they might do some- gun is cocked and loaded. streets against the regime. And I have thing about it. We cannot go to war without Con- heard from friends of mine who have Our colleagues say that the President gress being involved in the debate and deep roots in Iran that this has prob- is reckless, without a plan. the President telling us what his policy ably set back the cause of reform Here is what is reckless: appease- is going to be. Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I years, if not decades, in Iran. ment. Appeasement has gotten Ameri- yield myself such time as I may con- We are less safe, not more. cans killed, has gotten people around I strongly urge the approval of this the globe killed because of this guy. sume. Madam Speaker, if we defeat the pre- resolution as a start to rein in the What is the point of designating him a vious question, I will offer an amend- President’s worst impulses, but we terrorist if you are not going to do ment to the rule to provide for imme- must also put in additional checks, by anything about it? diate consideration of H. Res. 783, hon- passing Representative KHANNA’s legis- Doing the bidding of Iran on this oring the members of the military and lation to ensure no funds are used for floor is unacceptable. We don’t want to intelligence community for carrying an unauthorized war with Iran and be in a war, that is true, nobody wants out the mission that killed General Representative LEE’s legislation to re- to be in a war, but I have got a news Soleimani. flash for everybody: Iran slapped us in peal the 2002 AUMF. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous The SPEAKER pro tempore. The the face in 1979 and they have been consent to insert the text of this time of the gentleman has expired. fighting with us ever since. amendment into the RECORD, along Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I Us saying we are not going to defend with extraneous material, immediately yield an additional 15 seconds to the ourselves does not stop Iran from fight- prior to the vote on the previous ques- gentleman. ing the war that they have with us. Ap- tion. Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, peasing Iran will only kill more Ameri- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there this is an opportunity for us to get it cans. It hasn’t worked. objection to the request of the gen- right. And to take our friend, Mr. That is what is happening here tleman from Texas? COLE’s, word, we can move this for- today, Madam Speaker: the defense of There was no objection. ward. I see this as a beginning, and we the appeasement strategy of the last Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I can build on it, but rein in this admin- administration and administrations in yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from istration. the past. Texas (Mr. CRENSHAW), my good friend, Send a strong signal. Approve this We cannot allow this strategy to con- to explain the resolution. resolution. tinue and Americans to be killed or Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, may Iran to have a nuclear weapon. thank the gentleman for yielding. I inquire the amount of time remain- Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I I rise to urge defeat of the previous ing? would just urge my colleagues to read question so that we can immediately The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- the resolution. This is about the future consider my resolution to honor the tleman from Texas has 12 minutes re- and it is about whether or not, if we go hard work and dedication of the men maining. The gentleman from Massa- to war with Iran, whether or not Con- and women who made the precision chusetts has 133⁄4 minutes remaining. gress upholds its constitutional respon- strike on Qasem Soleimani possible. Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I sibility. This is an interesting crossroads we yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to find ourselves in. After the successful Pennsylvania (Mr. PERRY), a valuable the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. response by the United States against member of the House Committee on WELCH). the escalating aggression from the Foreign Affairs. Mr. WELCH. Madam Speaker, I world’s most active and deadly ter- Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. rorist, Qasem Soleimani, our great thank the gentleman for yielding. The President’s policy towards Iran country has found itself divided and Madam Speaker, this resolution is in- is to tear up diplomacy and embrace unsure of itself. sincere and unserious. It is insincere so-called maximum pressure. Instead of unity and resolve in the because this is just: We don’t like the The most recent strike, far from face of a clear and common enemy, we President and he took action, and we making us safer, is making us more in- have division and self-doubt. What is can’t stand it. secure. worse, that division has been sourced It is unserious, because if they really Think about the deliberate con- from the leadership in this very body. wanted to limit the actions of our gov- sequences from that act: While legitimate questions were ernment to defend our country and de- One, the Iraqi street is dem- raised—what authority was used, what fend those in uniform, this wouldn’t be onstrating against the U.S., not was the reasoning, what sort of intel- a nonbinding resolution, they would against Iran, as they were before; ligence backed this decision—those limit it. If they want to limit it, go Two, the Iranian street is dem- questions have long been answered ahead and do it. onstrating with the mullahs against clearly and convincingly. For the people in America that say, the U.S. instead of against their own The President has clear authority, a ‘‘Well, we don’t know this Soleimani government; duty in fact, to respond to attacks guy. How come we don’t know him?’’ Three, the Iraqi parliament voted to against American citizens and U.S. That is a great question. How come expel the United States from Iraq, forces. That isn’t my opinion; that is they don’t know? jeopardizing our anti-ISIS mission; clear from Article II of the Constitu- Well, let me introduce folks to him. Number four, our military has sus- tion and the War Powers Resolution. He got busy with his work as a ter- pended training for anti-ISIS activities The case is made even stronger when rorist in Beirut, killing 241 marines; in Iraq because of this strike; you consider this occurred entirely the Khobar Towers, killing Americans; Number five, the Iran nuclear deal within Iraq, a place where we already hundreds of American personnel wear- that the President tore up that Ira- have a lawful military operational ing uniforms dead by EFPs, explosively nians complied with, they are now re- footprint.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Jan 10, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K09JA7.033 H09JAPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE H86 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 9, 2020 The reasoning is quite simple as well: The SPEAKER pro tempore. The So these attacks against Americans, We must make clear that the U.S. will time of the gentleman has expired. we talked about the dead Americans not be attacked indefinitely, that we Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I from Iraq, these have been going on for will respond, and that response will yield an additional 15 seconds to the a very long time, and I was part of the make you regret ever having hit us in gentleman. response to that. the first place. Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I One of the most important things we The long history of General ask my colleagues to support this reso- can do, if we are going to have this Soleimani’s actions against the United lution and put to rest once and for all process argument, is appreciate the States throughout the region, and the the false implication that America men and women, not just of the mili- killing and maiming of thousands of cannot defend herself when necessary. tary, but of the intelligence commu- America’s sons and daughters, and in- Madam Speaker, I urge defeat of the nity, of the State Department, of ev- dications of his future actions make previous question. erywhere that has worked to bring the this point even stronger. Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I intelligence to bring this evil man to As to the intelligence, our CIA, our yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman justice. Director of National Intelligence, our from (Ms. MOORE). I heard somebody earlier say we Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, late should have just captured him. Well, have repeatedly told us that this intel- last week, President Trump ordered think of the risk that would have put ligence was some of the best they had the assassination of a high-ranking Ira- to our military. So maybe we should at ever seen, and it removed all doubt nian official while he was in Iraq. least appreciate the job that they are This action threatens to cascade the that Soleimani was planning large willing to do. That is going to be essen- United States into an ill-advised, not scale imminent attacks. tial. authorized war with Iran, and is al- These questions have been answered I often hear my friends talk about ready setting into motion a series of over and over and over, and yet my col- keeping the military safe, as if that is disastrous unintended consequences for leagues pretend not to hear those an- the end state of the military. American security and interests in the swers. After all, the mere thought of The military’s job that they volun- Middle East. agreeing with and supporting our teer for every day is to keep the Amer- President is repugnant to them even The President trashed the Joint ican people safe, and that is exactly when it is the right thing to do. Comprehensive Plan of Action, which what was done a week ago in the death So instead of applauding these ac- Iran was following and that put in tions that restored American deter- place the first real restraints on Iran’s of Soleimani. rence, delivered justice to hundreds of nuclear program. The world and Amer- So, Madam Speaker, I urge my col- dead American soldiers and their fami- ica were safer under the JCPOA frame- leagues to defeat the previous question lies, and severely weakened the ter- work, period. so that we can give them an oppor- rorist organization IRGC Quds Force, Enter Trump, and now we see Iranian tunity and pass this resolution appre- my colleagues wring their hands and rockets firing, U.S. forces being pushed ciating the men and women of the in- express regret and disappointment. out of Iraq, and alliances strained as telligence community and the mili- Instead of applauding the men and we all await further retaliations. tary. That is the least we can do after women of our military standing in Oh, history is replete with the misery this debate on the floor. harm’s way, instead of recognizing the befalling those poor empires who first b 1330 tireless vigilance of our intelligence fight and mistake that for might. Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I This escalation with Iran must end, community, instead of acknowledging yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman those who have spent years confronting Congress must reassert its war powers from Texas (Ms. ESCOBAR). authority, and I urge adoption of the the Iranian threat network directly, Ms. ESCOBAR. Madam Speaker, as a my colleagues in this Congress seek to resolution. Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I Member of Congress, I take my duty to undermine them. protect and defend our Nation’s inter- I take this personally, since I was yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from ests very seriously. The President’s one of those servicemembers for so Illinois (Mr. KINZINGER), a valuable reckless and irresponsible actions to- many years. member of the Energy and Commerce This threat is not new to us, though Committee and the Committee on ward Iran have endangered our service- it may be new to those politicians who Armed Forces. members, diplomats, and allies, and have lived comfortably and safely back Mr. KINZINGER. Madam Speaker, I they have worked counter to American home, now casting stones from ivory thank the chairman for yielding. security interests. Those include dan- towers, relying on disingenuous judg- Sometimes when I watch the debate, gerous decisions to pull out of the suc- ments and false premises to make a I wonder what happened to the con- cessful Iran deal and kill Commander false, politically-driven case to the fident America that I remember; that Soleimani, drastically ratcheting up American people. when a failing country threatens us, we tensions in the region. So I offer this resolution today in actually respond with force instead of In the context of the administra- order to right that wrong. I offer this fear and run away. tion’s failure to demonstrate an immi- to demonstrate to the American people That said, this process argument nent threat to our Nation, there is no and our servicemembers and members that we are having is interesting, but authority for such an action without of the intelligence community that as my colleague said earlier, maybe authorization from Congress. What this Congress does indeed stand by the they forgot something. makes this even more dangerous is decision to rid the world of America’s So I am going to urge defeat of the that the President has no clear strat- enemies and those who seek to do us previous question, because I think in egy. harm and stands by those who made this resolution, something major was Under the Constitution, President justice possible. forgotten, maybe they can re-craft it, Trump does not have the authority to This resolution simply states the ob- bring it back later, but that is this: I unilaterally wage war. That is why, vious: that General Soleimani was head hear my friends on the other side of the today, I support this rule and the un- of one of the most sophisticated ter- aisle say that Mr. Soleimani was a bad derlying resolution, which directs the rorist organizations in the world that guy and they are glad he is dead. How- President to end hostilities with Iran already committed numerous attacks ever—process argument follows—I and to keep our troops in America safe. against the United States and planned think something has been left out of I urge my colleagues to support this to carry out many more within days. this. resolution. This resolution rightfully congratu- When I was in Iraq in 2008 and 2009, I Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I lates our men and women who dis- operated mostly against terrorist net- yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from rupted this evil chain of attacks, in- works of a different nature, but about Florida (Mr. WALTZ). stead of wrongly suggesting to them a quarter of my operations were Mr. WALTZ. Madam Speaker, Qasem that their actions were unauthorized against terrorist networks from Mr. Soleimani, as we have discussed, many and even immoral. Soleimani. of us have discussed here today, was a

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Jan 10, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K09JA7.034 H09JAPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE January 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H87 terrorist and a terrorist supporter, and Ms. DELAURO. Madam Speaker, the for war. The Constitution gave us the hundreds of American troops were War Powers Resolution simply requires power to raise and support armies and killed because of him. Many of them the President to consult with the Con- to provide and maintain a Navy. are scarred for life. gress and with the American public be- Why? Why didn’t the Framers just I don’t think we can overstate, in fore going to war with Iran. give the President the power to declare this body, how gruesome, how ad- Our constituents held their breath on and wage war? After all, the President vanced, how effective the explosive de- Tuesday. Thankfully, no lives were lost is made Commander in Chief of the vices that he poured into his militias in Iran’s retaliatory attack, but seri- Army and Navy and militias when were. They were deadly. They were ous concerns remain about the ration- called into the actual service of the manufactured in Iran. They were put in ale and the ramifications. United States. It would have been a lot place by Iran. They were trained by We do not mourn the loss of Qasem simpler to say let the President go to Iran. They had the capability to com- Soleimani. He was responsible for ac- war whenever he wants. Why didn’t pletely penetrate our armored vehicles. tions that harmed and killed American they do that? Soleimani worked hand in hand, in personnel and allies, and I condemn Well, the Framers acted against a addition to this, with Assad in Syria, a that. But any U.S. military action, es- background of kings and princes plung- serial human rights abuser, and waged pecially one that could spark cata- ing their populations into wars of van- even chemical warfare on his own peo- strophic consequences, needs to be ity and political advantage to distract ple, literally killing tens of thousands. carefully considered, fully justified their people at home from the political And because of him, today, hundreds, if within the law. problems of the kingdom, of the mon- not thousands, of families, including President Trump failed to consult archy. And our Framers were emphatic Gold Star families, just this past holi- the Congress, failed to secure specific that the awesome power of war, the day, couldn’t open up presents with authorization, failed to cite with speci- power over life and death of our sons their loved ones. No longer will they ficity the imminent threat. In a classi- and daughters, the power over our na- celebrate birthdays or holidays because fied briefing for Members of Congress, tional treasure not be vested in one of this one evil man. the administration would not, could man alone but, rather, in American de- This terrorist, because of his savage not provide any specifics about what mocracy itself. actions, I, as a former Green Beret who constituted an imminent threat. They The representatives of the people, the operated against these thugs for years, couldn’t tell us what the targets were, people of Maryland and Virginia and am grateful to the intelligence officer, nor would they divulge any of the Florida and California and Idaho and as my colleague Mr. KINZINGER just timelines for the attack. Pennsylvania and Michigan and Alaska mentioned, to the members of the mili- It is unprecedented the level at which and Hawaii, that is who the Framers tary who carried out this mission to this administration is seeking to ob- vested the power of war in: the Con- prevent more lives from being lost. scure the facts from the Congress and gress of the United States. Soleimani was actively planning at- the American people. The rationale is Now, the structural problem is that, tacks in the coming weeks, in the com- in doubt, the ramifications as well: The if the Nation is actually attacked or ing days, in the coming months. Ac- U.S. announced it will suspend our there is an imminent attack coming, cording to the Chairman of the Joint fight against ISIS; Iraq’s Prime Min- the President may need to respond in Chiefs of Staff, these attacks were im- ister and the legislature moved to self-defense. Madison anticipated that, minent, they were clear, and they were expel our troops; the Iranian leaders and Madison said that might happen. a present danger for our troops, to our announced they would no longer abide The Supreme Court, in 1863, in the allies, and to our interests. by the 2015 nuclear deal. middle of the Civil War, in the Prize From an oversight perspective, the President Trump’s actions have dra- Cases, said that the President can act President had a duty to act; and I, for matically increased the possibility of in those situations. Lincoln embargoed one, would be screaming from the roof- war with Iran and Iran’s pursuit of a and blockaded the Southern States, tops if he had not taken appropriate nuclear weapon. Today, America and and that was attacked as unconstitu- action. our allies are less safe as a result of the tional. They said, well, he was acting So, again, Madam Speaker, I am administration’s actions. against a real, imminent threat to the thankful for his leadership taking this The SPEAKER pro tempore. The land and the people of the country. monster out. Frankly, this should have time of the gentlewoman has expired. Now, after the , Con- been done a long, long time ago, years Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I gress passed the War Powers Resolu- ago, by multiple previous administra- yield to the gentlewoman from Con- tion in 1973, providing the President tions. It astounds me that this is up for necticut an additional 30 seconds. may engage our forces in hostilities debate. Ms. DELAURO. Let us reassert the only with a declaration of war, a statu- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Congress’ role to ensure that the Presi- tory authorization, or a national emer- time of the gentleman has expired. dent—any President—is complying gency created by an attack upon our Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I with the law and is not conducting people or our Armed Forces. yield to the gentleman from Florida an lengthy military actions without con- Now, under the War Powers Act, the additional 15 seconds. gressional approval. President must consult Congress if he Mr. WALTZ. For those of you saying Let us prevent another unnecessary thinks that he is acting in imminent actions have consequences, let me re- war. Let us vote for this rule and this self-defense of the country. The Presi- mind you that inaction has con- resolution. dent didn’t do that. He talked to some sequences. Go to Walter Reed or Ar- Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, may other people at Mar-a-Lago. He never lington, or go visit the American con- I inquire as to how much time I have talked to the Congress of the United tractor, as though that is some kind of remaining. States officially, neither the Repub- term, the American that was killed The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- licans nor the Democrats. He didn’t just last week. His name was Nawres tleman from Texas has 1 minute re- contact the so-called Gang of Eight of Waleed Hamid. He is from Sacramento. maining. our top leadership in the intelligence He is from California, and he was just Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I re- and security field. buried. serve the balance of my time. He did notify us, in fairness to the I think the answer for most Ameri- Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I President, within 48 hours of his tar- cans is this was warranted. It certainly am proud to yield 3 minutes to the gen- geted killing, which many see, under was for me. tleman from Maryland (Mr. RASKIN), a international law, as an act of war. I urge my colleagues to vote against distinguished member of the Rules At this point, though, whether you the previous question and consider this Committee. think there was truly an imminent cri- resolution. Mr. RASKIN. Madam Speaker, the sis and this was something like Pearl Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I Constitution gave Congress the power Harbor or you think that the President yield 11⁄2 minutes to the gentlewoman to declare war. The Constitution gave still has not given us a single compel- from Connecticut (Ms. DELAURO). Congress the power appropriate money ling justification for why he did it in

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Madam Speaker, I sieged by an economic crisis and recently math, ready to handle an Iranian backlash in yield the gentleman from Maryland an crushed mass protests. the region and beyond? additional 30 seconds. But Iran will surely regard the killing of Trump’s hubristic tweeting of a US flag Mr. RASKIN. All of us, everybody in one of its most significant political leaders following Soleimani’s death in a drone strike this Chamber at this point should say as an act of war, so its revenge is likely to in Iraq but failure to explain to Americans that whatever imminent threat ex- be serious and long lasting. what is going on may be a bad sign in this re- isted, whatever emergency there was is ‘‘There are definitely going to be unin- gard. But despite a stream of instant Twitter gone, and now this country should not tended consequences, and for starters I think we better have our embassies pretty well analysis from pundits suddenly expert in Ira- go to war without a declaration of war buttoned down,’’ former US Ambassador to nian affairs, no one can be sure what will by this Congress or statutory author- Iraq Christopher Hill told CNN. happen next. That’s what makes Trump’s ization, unless we are attacked in the ‘‘Iran simply cannot sit on its hands on strike so unpredictable and potentially meantime. this one. I think there will be a reaction and dicey. That is the whole point of the War I’m afraid it could get bloody in places.’’ With the vast network of proxies from Powers Resolution, to enforce the pow- Trump supporters are celebrating their Hezbollah to Hamas, Iran has the capacity to ers of Congress. We represent the peo- hard man commander-in-chief. They note strike fast and hard against US allies like Israel and Saudi Arabia and US assets and ple. We should not be going to war in that Soleimani orchestrated the deaths of hundreds of US soldiers in militia attacks personnel in its region. It could hammer the the name of the United States based on during the . But recent history is global economy by attacking oil tankers in the word of one man. That is not the marked by spectacular US shock-and-awe the Strait of Hormuz. US officials and top constitutional design. It must be the opening acts of conflicts in Iraq and Afghani- military officers may be more exposed when Congress itself. stan that cause short-term gloating and long they travel abroad. Iran could explode Leb- Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I re- term military and political disasters. A full- anon’s fragile political compact and causes serve the balance of my time. on conflict with Iran would be far more com- region-wide shocks. Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I plicated than those two wars. US troops in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan look especially vulnerable to action by Ira- include in the RECORD a January 3 CNN Trump’s strike may be the most signifi- nian-allied forces. Politically, the Baghdad article, entitled, ‘‘Trump’s Huge Iran cant calculated US act in a 40-year Cold War with revolutionary Iran. It’s the biggest US government may have no choice but to ask Gamble Will Have Lasting Impact.’’ foreign policy bet since the invasion of Iraq. American forces to leave after the attack in [From CNN, Jan. 3, 2020] Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a scenario that could effectively deliver the TRUMP’S HUGE IRAN GAMBLE WILL HAVE CNN’s ‘‘New Day’’ that killing Soleimani country to Iran’s influence or retrigger its LASTING IMPACT ‘‘saved American lives’’ and was based on terrible civil war. (By Stephen Collinson) ‘‘imminent’’ threat intelligence about an at- The killing of Soleimani is a massive sym- (CNN) President ’s targeted tack in the region. Trump echoed his sec- bolic blow to Iran. He was the Godfather of killing of Iran’s ruthless military and intel- retary of state later Friday morning, the Middle East who masterminded the coun- ligence chief adds up to his most dangerous tweeting that Soleimani ‘‘was plotting to try’s huge regional influence. Pompeo claimed that his demise will be gamble yet with other peoples’ lives and his kill many more’’ Americans. greeted by Iraqis and Iranians as a blow for own political fate. But Pompeo refused to give further details. By killing Qasem Soleimani in Iraq, The political bar for an administration that freedom and a sign the United States is on Trump committed the United States to a has made a habit of disinformation and lying their side. But developments in Middle East- risky open conflict that at best could stop is going to be far higher than that in such a ern politics rarely mirror the optimistic pro- short of all-out war with Iran that could grave crisis. Eliminating the most powerful nouncements of US officials. cause national security and economic shocks political force in Iran short of Supreme DID THE US INFLICT A SERIOUS STRATEGIC BLOW in the United States and across the globe. Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also de- ON IRAN? The administration argues that it has stroys the chimera that this White House is Analysts will be looking to see whether the taken one of the world’s worst mass mur- not committed to a regime change strategy. death of Soleimani robs the Quds force of the derers and terrorists off the battlefield. But Given Soleimani’s frequent travels to Iraq, Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps of its given Iran’s easy access to soft targets, the Syria and other areas in the Middle East this coherence and dims its regional power at Middle East and even Europe suddenly look is not the first time that he will have been least at first. a lot less safe for Americans, including US in US crosshairs. But previous presidents, Tehran’s strategic response is unclear. troops Trump may be even more tempted to perhaps cognizant of the inflammatory con- While it could lash out, a wave of attacks haul home. sequences, chose not to take the shot. In the against US soldiers or terrorist strikes else- Two days into his re-election year, coming days, the administration will have to where may draw it into a direct conflict with Trump—who rails against Middle Eastern en- explain why it acted now. a more powerful rival, the United States tanglements—has plunged the United States The act also likely eliminates possibly for that it does not seek. into another one, with vast and unknown a generation, any hope that the United It is not certain that it will strike back consequences. It challenges a presidency States and Iran can settle their differences quickly. It may have more to gain from that is already alienating half of his coun- by talking. There will be no desire nor polit- making life intolerable for the United States try, following his and unre- ical capital for even Iranian officials often and its citizens in the region in a slow burn strained behavior in office. Trump may find misleadingly described as moderates to sit approach. it impossible to rally the nation behind him down with US counterparts. Trump could be especially exposed to a to weather the crisis. He has also scrambled When Trump took office, there was no im- such a military or economic backlash by strategic and moral expectations of the mediate crisis with Iran. The Islamic Repub- Iran that casts doubt on his judgment given United States—ordering the killing of a sen- lic was honoring the Obama administration’s his quickening reelection race. ior foreign leader of a nation with whom the nuclear deal though it had not stepped back His move against Iran could also reshape US is not formally at war—albeit an official from its missile development and what the the dynamics of the presidential election regarded by Washington as a terrorist. US says is malignant activity in its own race at home, by opening a lane for Demo- Reflecting the strike’s potential for esca- neighborhood. crats to run as anti-war candidates against lation, a US defense official said the admin- But by ripping up the deal, strangling the him—a position that helped the last two istration would deploy a further 3,000 troops Iranian economy and now killing Soleimani, presidents—Trump and Barack Obama—get to the Middle East, including 750 who have Trump now owns however the confrontation elected. already deployed to protect the US embassy turns out. It’s a huge gamble because history Democratic candidate on in Baghdad. suggests that Presidents who bet their ca- Friday released a video vowing to do every- The reverberations of his act on Thursday reers on the jungle of Middle East politics al- thing he can ‘‘to prevent a war with Iran.’’ will last for years. ways lose. ‘‘Because if you think the war in Iraq was ‘‘Iran never won a war, but never lost a ne- The strike displays Trump’s growing in- a disaster, my guess is that the war in Iran gotiation!’’ Trump wrote on Friday morning fatuation with wielding military power, ex- would be even worse,’’ the Vermont senator in a tweet that will do nothing to calm crit- acerbates a trend of unchecked presidential said. ics who worry about the depth of his stra- authority and forges the kind of ruthless vig- And Democratic front-runner Joe Biden tegic thinking. ilante image he adores. immediately swung into sober commander- It is too early to know whether The question is now whether Trump—an in-chief mode, positioning himself to profit Soleimani’s death will significantly weaken erratic, inexperienced leader who abhors ad- politically if Trump’s Iran venture backfires.

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The former vice president offered testi- STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY missile attack from Iran against United mony to Soleimani’s record of fomenting H. CON. RES. 83—DIRECTING THE PRESIDENT States forces stationed at two bases in Iraq. bloodshed and instability but added: ‘‘Presi- PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(C) OF THE WAR POW- Over the last several months, Soleimani dent Trump just tossed a stick of dynamite ERS RESOLUTION TO TERMINATE THE USE OF planned and supported these escalating at- into a tinderbox.’’ UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES TO ENGAGE IN tacks by Iranian-directed Shia militia Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I HOSTILITIES IN OR AGAINST IRAN—REP. groups on coalition bases throughout Iraq. 1 SLOTKIN D MI AND 134 COSPONSORS He orchestrated the December 27, 2019 attack yield 1 ⁄2 minutes to the gentleman , – , on an Iraqi military base, which resulted in from Rhode Island (Mr. CICILLINE). The Administration strongly opposes pas- sage of H. Con. Res. 83, which purports to di- the death of a United States citizen and Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I rect the President to terminate the use of badly wounded four United States service rise in support of H. Con. Res. 83. United States Armed Forces engaged in hos- members. Soleimani also approved the subse- Our single greatest responsibility is tilities in or against Iran or any part of its quent attack later that month on the United States Embassy in Baghdad, which turned the safety and security of the Amer- government or military unless authorized by Congress. violent and damaged the Embassy facility. ican people; and as the elected rep- At the time of the January 2 strike, resentatives of the American people, it At the President’s direction, on January 2, the United States military successfully exe- Soleimani was in Iraq in violation of a is our solemn duty to ensure that our cuted a strike in Iraq that killed Qassem Security Council travel ban country only engages in armed conflict Soleimani, the Commander of the Islamic and was actively developing plans to immi- that is necessary and that, when we do, Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force, a nently attack United States diplomats and there are clear objectives and a strat- designated foreign terrorist organization. service members in Iraq and throughout the egy for achieving those objectives. Soleimani was personally responsible for ter- region. Subsequently, Iran launched an at- tack against the United States. Were Con- The Trump administration has pre- rible atrocities. He trained terrorist armies, including Hezbollah, launching terror strikes gress to attempt to compel the President to sented neither evidence that military against civilian targets. He fueled bloody adhere to a resolution like H. Con. Res. 83, it action is necessary nor a clear outline civil wars all across the region. He directed could hinder the President’s ability to pro- of their goals and a strategy with re- and facilitated actions that viciously wound- tect United States forces and interests in the spect to Iran. ed and murdered thousands of United States region from the continued threat posed by troops, including by planting bombs that Iran and its proxies. Any decision to put American troops This concurrent resolution is misguided, in harm’s way should be debated open- maim and dismember their victims. In elimi- nating Soleimani from the battlefield, the and its adoption by Congress could under- ly and honestly so that the American President took action to stop a war, not to mine the ability of the United States to pro- people have a say in their future. Noth- start a war. He took action to protect our tect American citizens whom Iran continues ing in this resolution prevents the ad- diplomats, our service members, our allies, to seek to harm. ministration from seeking authoriza- and all Americans. Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I tion for future actions, but it does Although concurrent resolutions like H. urge a ‘‘no’’ vote on the previous ques- guarantee, as the Constitution re- Con. Res. 83 lack the force of law under con- tion, ‘‘no’’ vote on the rule, the under- quires, that the American people, trolling Supreme Court precedent, I.N.S. v. lying measure, and I yield back the through their elected representatives, Chadha, 462 U.S. 919 (1983), it is nevertheless important to highlight some of its defi- balance of my time. have a voice in that decision. ciencies. Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I I urge my colleagues to support this First, H. Con. Res. 83 is unnecessary be- yield myself the balance of my time. resolution. cause the military actions to which it ap- Madam Speaker, I think what the Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I plies are already authorized by law, includ- President did was a grave miscalcula- ing the Authorization for Use of Military yield myself the balance of my time. tion, but we can’t change the past. We Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public can only shape the future. Madam Speaker, I was in the class of Law 107–243) (‘‘2002 AUMF’’). The 2002 AUMF I have raised concerns about execu- Congress that was elected right after provides specific statutory authorization to engage in military action to ‘‘defend the na- tive overreach during the Bush admin- September 11, 2001, that came into of- istration; I raised them during the fice in 2003. tional security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq.’’ Public Obama administration; and today, I am After coming to office, through press Law 107–243, § 3(a)(1). The United States here to raise those concerns about the reports and information in various con- forces that have been threatened by Iranian Trump administration. gressional hearings, we got informa- and Iran-backed attacks in Iraq are there to I hope there is no war with Iran, but tion that Osama bin Laden had de- combat terrorist groups—such as ISIS. Thus, we have seen that developments can clared war on the United States in in addition to acting in accordance with his change day by day, hour by hour. Constitutional authorities as Commander in 1997—I did not know that—and that Should tensions escalate again, Con- there had been actionable intelligence Chief and Chief Executive, the President also acted against Soleimani pursuant to existing gress should have a say before hos- and Osama bin Laden could have been statutory authorization. The 2002 AUMF has tilities are launched. It is really that taken out prior to the attack of Sep- always been understood to authorize the use simple. tember 11, 2001, but the administration of force for, among other purposes, address- This should be the easiest vote in the in the 1990s decided not to do so. ing terrorist threats—like Soleimani and the world for Members of Congress. Re- Now, yesterday, fast-forwarding to attacks he was planning and facilitating— gardless of what you think about what present time, we heard from General emanating from Iraq. This is consistent with the President has done, regardless actions taken by previous Presidents pursu- Mark Milley clear, unambiguous intel- ant to the 2002 AUMF. For example, during whether you agree with his policies or ligence indicating a significant cam- the last administration, United States forces not, and regardless of your political af- paign of violence against the United frequently conducted operations in response filiation, this is about ensuring that we States in the days, weeks, and months to attacks and threats by Iran-backed mili- have a say about what may come next. that the administration would have tias in Iraq under the authority conferred by There is nothing radical about this. been culpably negligent if it did not the 2002 AUMF. Moreover, the Administra- The Constitution gives only Congress act, all in regards to the killing of Gen- tion’s engagement with Congress on this the ability to declare war. Let’s re- eral Soleimani. strike has been fully in accordance with past claim our power and let’s do our jobs. precedent, including by providing notifica- tion consistent with the War Powers Resolu- My friends say they want to honor b 1345 tion and by briefing Congressional leader- our troops. Well, talk is cheap. How ship, the full membership of the House and about honoring our troops by doing our The President wants to keep the Senate, and appropriate staff. job, by living up to our constitutional country safe. The President showed re- Second, were provisions like those in- responsibilities. War is a big deal. We markable restraint, I thought, yester- cluded in H. Con. Res. 83 to become law, they ought to take it seriously here. I and day, and I thought the tone in his ad- could undermine the President’s ability to some of my Republican friends over the dress to the Nation yesterday was pre- defend United States forces and interests in years have raised issues with Demo- cisely the right tone. the region against ongoing threats from Iran and its proxies. Iran has a long history of at- cratic and Republican administrations Madam Speaker, I include in the tacking United States and coalition forces about the ease in which they commit RECORD a Statement of Administration both directly and through its proxies, includ- our troops to hostilities. Enough is Policy. ing, most recently, by means of a January 7 enough.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:30 Jan 10, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A09JA7.009 H09JAPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE H90 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 9, 2020 No more endless wars. Congress has Congress, and of the American people, that retary of State Colin Powell stated before the to live up to its constitutional respon- the killing of Major General Soleimani was a Iraq War, ‘‘If you break it, you bought it.’’ sibility. Let’s reclaim our power. Let’s necessary action that was the product of a Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei do our job. carefully crafted geopolitical strategy devel- has vowed that a ‘‘harsh retaliation is waiting’’ Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, as a oped after extensive discussion within the na- for the United States as a consequence of the senior member of the House Committees on tional security apparatus regarding the short action taken by the Administration. the Judiciary and on Homeland Security, as a and long-term consequences for the security It is imperative that the Administration have member serving in this body on September of the region and our nation and its people. in place a strategy to counter and deescalate 11, 2001 and throughout the fateful and tragic Similarly, we do not know whether the deci- any Iranian response and have in place meas- war in Iraq, and as an original cosponsor, I sion to engage in the hostile action against ure to protect the safety of Americans residing rise in strong support of the rule governing de- Iran was made by the President in consulta- or travelling abroad and to protect the security bate of H. Con. Res. 83, a concurrent resolu- tion and agreement with our regional and of the homeland. tion directing the President to terminate the international allies and whether there is now in The deliberate and targeted killing of Major engagement of United States Armed Forces in place a strategy to ensure that the action General Soleimani has the potential to be the hostilities in or against Iran, as well as the un- taken does not lead to a greater escalation of most consequential assassination of a political derlying legislation. tensions between Iran and the United States leader since World War I was started by the I thank the gentlelady from Michigan, Con- or in the worst case, another war in the Middle assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand gresswoman ELISSA SLOTKIN, for introducing East placing at risk the lives and safety of mil- Carl Ludwig Joseph Maria of Austria, the heir this resolution and Foreign Affairs Committee lions of persons. presumptive of the throne of Austria-Hungary Chair ELIOT ENGEL for his work on this impor- Madam Speaker, Major General Soleimani in 1914. tant resolution. was the long-time chief of the Quds Force, the One of the enduring lessons of the Great I also thank Speaker PELOSI for taking swift elite special forces battalion of the Islamic War too often forgotten but so well docu- action to afford the House the opportunity to Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), assisted mented in Barbara Tuchman’s prize-winning honor its constitutional duty to keep the Amer- Syrian strongman Bashar al Assad slaughter history, ‘‘The Guns of August,’’ is that mis- ican people safe by limiting the President from hundreds of thousands of his own people in conceptions, miscalculations, and mistakes re- taking further precipitous military actions re- the Syrian civil war, helped incite the Houthis sult in the tragedy of horrific warfare; among garding Iran. in Yemen’s civil war, and oversaw the brutal them are overestimating the value of one’s We know from bitter and heart-breaking ex- killing of hundreds of Iraqi protesters recently economic power, harboring an ill-founded be- perience the truth that while dangerous and demonstrating against Iranian influence in their lief in quick victory, and a failure to consider bloody battles are fought by the military, it is country. political backlash warfare. the nation that goes to war. Iran’s Quds Force, under Soleimani’s lead- Madam Speaker, the decision to send And that is why the Framers lodged the ership, has long been suspected by the U.S. American men and women into harm’s way is awesome power to declare and take the na- Government of involvement in a 2011 plot to the most consequential decision the Constitu- tion to war not in the hands of a single indi- assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the tion vests in the Congress and the President. vidual, but through Article I, Section, clause 11 United States and bore responsibility for the Members of Congress must be apprised of in the collective judgment of Congress, the deaths of more than 600 Americans killed by all facts material to the decision and have ac- representatives of the American people. Iranian proxies since the 2003 inception of the cess to relevant documentation, classified and It is true of course that the United States war in Iraq. otherwise, and afforded the opportunity to has an inherent right to self-defense against Over the past eight months, in response to meet in small groups and in secure locations imminent armed attacks and that it maintains rising tensions with Iran, the United States has with senior members of the Administration’s the right to ensure the safety of diplomatic introduced over 15,000 additional forces into national security team who can answer de- personnel serving abroad. the Middle East. tailed and pointed questions and provide re- But in matters of imminent armed attacks, But Major General Soleimani was more than quested information. the executive branch must inform Congress as a military leader, he was a high-ranking polit- The Constitution wisely divides the responsi- to why military action was necessary within a ical leader, second only in power and influ- bility of deciding when to use military force to certain window of opportunity, the possible ence to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali protect the nation and its interests between harm that missing the window would cause, Khamenei. the President and the Congress, the rep- and why the action was likely to prevent future In fact, Soleimani was regarded by many as resentatives of the American people. disastrous attacks against the United States. a future president of Iran. The United States’ military involvement in Only after being fully briefed and informed is It was foreseeable therefore that the killing Iraq begun in March 2003 and continuing to the Congress in a position to validate and rat- of Soleimani by American forces was likely to this day has taught this nation the importance ify or disapprove and terminate the action. invite retaliation by Iran putting at risk Amer- of having accurate and reliable information Madam Speaker, Section 5(c) of the 1973 ican military and civilian personnel, as well as when deciding whether to use military force War Power Resolution, Pub. L. 93–148, pro- its allies in the region and across the globe. and the painful costs in lives and treasure of vides that whenever ‘‘United States Armed It must be remembered, Madam Speaker, acting precipitously or unwisely. Forces are engaged in hostilities outside the the United States has national interests in pre- We cannot and dare not repeat that mis- territory of the United States, its possessions serving its partnership with Iraq and other take. and territories without a declaration of war or countries in the region, including by combating That is why I am proud to support and co- specific statutory authorization, such forces terrorists, including the Islamic State of Iraq sponsor H. Con. Res. 83, the concurrent reso- shall be removed by the President if the Con- and Syria (ISIS); preventing Iran from achiev- lution before us, which directs the President to gress so directs by concurrent resolution.’’ ing a nuclear weapons capability; and sup- terminate immediately the use of United The military action ordered on Friday, Janu- porting the people of Iraq, Iran, and other States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in ary 3, 2020 by the President to kill Major Gen- countries throughout the Middle East who de- or against Iran or any part of its government eral Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Is- mand an end to government corruption and or military, unless Congress has declared war lamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, may have violations of basic human rights. or enacted specific statutory authorization for rid the world of a major architect of terror but For these reasons it is essential that the Ad- such use of the Armed Forces; or the use of leaves unanswered the critically important ministration have in place a sound, well-con- the Armed Forces is necessary and appro- question of why the action was taken at that sidered, and meticulously developed strategy priate to defend against an imminent armed time. for managing disputes with Iran. attack upon the United States, its territories or Even at this late hour, members of Con- That does not appear to be the case. possessions, or its Armed Forces, consistent gress have not been briefed or been shown There is no evidence that the Administration with the requirements of the War Powers Res- compelling evidence by the Administration that consulted with Congress or the Gang of 8, no olution. the action was necessary to repel a credible, evidence that it enlisted or even consulted our Our constituents, all Americans across the certain, and imminent attack on the United allies in NATO or the region, no evidence that country, and the people of the globe are look- States, its allies, or American civilians or mili- the Administration has a working and well- ing to us to ensure that tensions between the tary personnel. functioning national security council apparatus. United States and Iran are deescalated, that The Administration has yet to provide proof This is a critical Pottery Barn failure in deal- smart power and diplomacy be employed, and or assuage the concerns of most member of ing with the Middle East for as former Sec- every effort be made to ensure the peace and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:30 Jan 10, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K09JA7.040 H09JAPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE January 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H91 safety in America and the region, and the lives Kelly (IL) Murphy (FL) Scott, David Stivers Walberg Williams of the innocent not be placed at risk. Kennedy Nadler Sewell (AL) Taylor Walden Wilson (SC) Khanna Napolitano Shalala Thompson (PA) Walker Wittman The material previously referred to Kildee Neal Sherman Thornberry Walorski Womack by Mr. BURGESS is as follows: Kilmer Neguse Sherrill Timmons Waltz Woodall Kim Norcross Tipton Watkins AMENDMENT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 781 Sires Wright Krishnamoorthi O’Halleran Slotkin Turner Weber (TX) Yoho At the end of the resolution, add the fol- Kuster (NH) Ocasio-Cortez Smith (WA) Upton Webster (FL) Young Van Drew Wenstrup lowing: Lamb Omar Soto Zeldin Langevin Pallone Wagner Westerman SEC. 3. Immediately upon adoption of this Spanberger Larsen (WA) Panetta Speier resolution, the House shall proceed to the Larson (CT) Pappas NOT VOTING—12 Stanton consideration in the House of the resolution Lawrence Pascrell Buchanan Hunter Loudermilk Stevens (H. Res. 783) honoring the members of the Lawson (FL) Payne Crawford Kind McEachin military and intelligence community who Lee (CA) Perlmutter Suozzi Diaz-Balart Kirkpatrick Serrano carried out the mission that killed Qasem Lee (NV) Peters Swalwell (CA) Fitzpatrick Lewis Simpson Soleimani, and for other purposes. The reso- Levin (CA) Peterson Takano Thompson (CA) lution shall be considered as read. The pre- Levin (MI) Phillips b 1413 Lieu, Ted Pingree Thompson (MS) vious question shall be considered as ordered Lipinski Pocan Titus Mrs. HARTZLER changed her vote on the resolution and preamble to adoption Loebsack Porter Tlaib without intervening motion or demand for from ‘‘yea’’ to ‘‘nay.’’ Lofgren Pressley Tonko So the previous question was ordered. division of the question except one hour of Lowenthal Price (NC) Torres (CA) debate equally divided and controlled by the Lowey Quigley Torres Small The result of the vote was announced chair and ranking minority member of the Luja´ n Raskin (NM) as above recorded. Committee on Armed Services. Clause 1(c) of Luria Rice (NY) Trahan Stated against: Lynch Richmond rule XIX shall not apply to the consideration Trone Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Speaker, I was Malinowski Rose (NY) Underwood of House Resolution 783. Maloney, Rouda Vargas unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I Carolyn B. Roybal-Allard Mr. MCGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I Veasey would have voted ‘‘nay’’ on rollcall No. 5. Maloney, Sean Ruiz yield back the balance of my time, and Vela Matsui Ruppersberger The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. ´ I move the previous question on the McAdams Rush Velazquez DELBENE). The question is on the reso- resolution. McBath Ryan Visclosky lution. Wasserman The SPEAKER pro tempore. The McCollum Sa´ nchez The question was taken; and the McGovern Sarbanes Schultz question is on ordering the previous McNerney Scanlon Waters Speaker pro tempore announced that question. Meeks Schakowsky Watson Coleman the ayes appeared to have it. The question was taken; and the Meng Schiff Welch Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, on Speaker pro tempore announced that Moore Schneider Wexton Morelle Schrader Wild that I demand the yeas and nays. the ayes appeared to have it. Moulton Schrier Wilson (FL) The yeas and nays were ordered. Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, on Mucarsel-Powell Scott (VA) Yarmuth The SPEAKER pro tempore. This is a that I demand the yeas and nays. 5-minute vote. NAYS—191 The yeas and nays were ordered. The vote was taken by electronic de- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Abraham Fulcher Massie vice, and there were—yeas 226, nays Aderholt Gallagher Mast ant to clause 9 of rule XX, this 15- Allen Gianforte McCarthy 193, not voting 11, as follows: minute vote on ordering the previous Amash Gibbs McCaul [Roll No. 6] Amodei Gohmert McClintock question will be followed by a 5-minute YEAS—226 votes on: Armstrong Gonzalez (OH) McHenry Arrington Gooden McKinley Adams Davis (CA) Huffman Adoption of the resolution, if or- Babin Gosar Meadows Aguilar Davis, Danny K. Jackson Lee dered; and Bacon Granger Meuser Allred Dean Jayapal Agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of Baird Graves (GA) Miller Axne DeFazio Jeffries Balderson Graves (LA) Mitchell Barraga´ n DeGette Johnson (GA) the Journal, if ordered. Banks Graves (MO) Moolenaar Bass DeLauro Johnson (TX) The vote was taken by electronic de- Barr Green (TN) Mooney (WV) Beatty DelBene Kaptur vice, and there were—yeas 227, nays Bergman Griffith Mullin Bera Delgado Keating Biggs Grothman Murphy (NC) Beyer Demings Kelly (IL) 191, not voting 12, as follows: Bilirakis Guest Newhouse Bishop (GA) DeSaulnier Kennedy [Roll No. 5] Bishop (NC) Guthrie Norman Blumenauer Deutch Khanna Bishop (UT) Hagedorn Nunes Blunt Rochester Dingell Kildee YEAS—227 Bost Harris Olson Bonamici Doggett Kilmer Adams Clyburn Fletcher Brady Hartzler Palazzo Boyle, Brendan Doyle, Michael Kim Aguilar Cohen Foster Brooks (AL) Hern, Kevin Palmer F. F. Krishnamoorthi Allred Connolly Frankel Brooks (IN) Herrera Beutler Pence Brindisi Engel Kuster (NH) Axne Cooper Fudge Buck Hice (GA) Perry Brown (MD) Escobar Lamb Barraga´ n Correa Gabbard Bucshon Higgins (LA) Posey Brownley (CA) Eshoo Langevin Bass Costa Gaetz Budd Hill (AR) Ratcliffe Bustos Espaillat Larsen (WA) Beatty Courtney Gallego Burchett Holding Reed Butterfield Evans Larson (CT) Bera Cox (CA) Garamendi Burgess Hollingsworth Reschenthaler Carbajal Finkenauer Lawrence Beyer Craig Garcı´a (IL) Byrne Hudson Rice (SC) Ca´ rdenas Fletcher Lawson (FL) Bishop (GA) Crist Garcia (TX) Calvert Huizenga Riggleman Carson (IN) Foster Lee (CA) Blumenauer Crow Golden Carter (GA) Hurd (TX) Roby Cartwright Frankel Lee (NV) Blunt Rochester Cuellar Gomez Carter (TX) Johnson (LA) Rodgers (WA) Case Fudge Levin (CA) Bonamici Cunningham Gonzalez (TX) Chabot Johnson (OH) Roe, David P. Casten (IL) Gabbard Levin (MI) Boyle, Brendan Davids (KS) Gottheimer Cheney Johnson (SD) Rogers (AL) Castor (FL) Gaetz Lieu, Ted F. Davis (CA) Green, Al (TX) Cline Jordan Rogers (KY) Castro (TX) Gallego Lipinski Brindisi Davis, Danny K. Grijalva Cloud Joyce (OH) Rooney (FL) Chu, Judy Garamendi Loebsack Brown (MD) Dean Haaland Cole Joyce (PA) Rose, John W. Cicilline Garcı´a (IL) Lofgren Brownley (CA) DeFazio Harder (CA) Collins (GA) Katko Rouzer Cisneros Garcia (TX) Lowenthal Bustos DeGette Hastings Comer Keller Roy Clark (MA) Golden Lowey Butterfield DeLauro Hayes Conaway Kelly (MS) Rutherford Clarke (NY) Gomez Luja´ n Carbajal DelBene Heck Cook Kelly (PA) Scalise Clay Gonzalez (TX) Luria Ca´ rdenas Delgado Higgins (NY) Crenshaw King (IA) Schweikert Cleaver Gottheimer Lynch Carson (IN) Demings Himes Curtis King (NY) Scott, Austin Clyburn Green, Al (TX) Malinowski Cartwright DeSaulnier Horn, Kendra S. Davidson (OH) Kinzinger Sensenbrenner Cohen Grijalva Maloney, Case Deutch Horsford Davis, Rodney Kustoff (TN) Shimkus Connolly Haaland Carolyn B. Casten (IL) Dingell Houlahan DesJarlais LaHood Smith (MO) Cooper Harder (CA) Maloney, Sean Castor (FL) Doggett Hoyer Duncan LaMalfa Smith (NE) Correa Hastings Matsui Castro (TX) Doyle, Michael Huffman Dunn Lamborn Smith (NJ) Costa Hayes McAdams Chu, Judy F. Jackson Lee Emmer Latta Smucker Courtney Heck McBath Cicilline Engel Jayapal Estes Lesko Spano Cox (CA) Higgins (NY) McCollum Cisneros Escobar Jeffries Ferguson Long Stauber Craig Himes McGovern Clark (MA) Eshoo Johnson (GA) Fleischmann Lucas Stefanik Crist Horn, Kendra S. McNerney Clarke (NY) Espaillat Johnson (TX) Flores Luetkemeyer Steil Crow Horsford Meeks Clay Evans Kaptur Fortenberry Marchant Steube Cuellar Houlahan Meng Cleaver Finkenauer Keating Foxx (NC) Marshall Stewart Davids (KS) Hoyer Moore

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:30 Jan 10, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A09JA7.015 H09JAPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE H92 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 9, 2020 Morelle Richmond Stevens NOT VOTING—11 (B) preventing Iran from achieving a nu- Moulton Rose (NY) Suozzi Buchanan Kind McEachin clear weapons capability; and Mucarsel-Powell Rouda Swalwell (CA) Crawford Kirkpatrick Serrano (C) supporting the people of Iraq, Iran, and Murphy (FL) Roybal-Allard Takano Fitzpatrick Lewis Simpson other countries throughout the Middle East Nadler Ruiz Thompson (CA) Hunter Loudermilk who demand an end to government corrup- Napolitano Ruppersberger Thompson (MS) tion and violations of basic human rights. Neal Rush Titus b 1422 Neguse Ryan Tlaib (5) Over the past eight months, in response Norcross Sa´ nchez Tonko So the resolution was agreed to. to rising tensions with Iran, the United O’Halleran Sarbanes Torres (CA) The result of the vote was announced States has introduced over 15,000 additional Ocasio-Cortez Scanlon Torres Small as above recorded. forces into the Middle East. Omar Schakowsky (NM) A motion to reconsider was laid on (6) When the United States uses military Pallone Schiff Trahan the table. force, the American people and members of Panetta Schneider Trone the United States Armed Forces deserve a Pappas Schrader Underwood f credible explanation regarding such use of Pascrell Schrier Vargas THE JOURNAL military force. Payne Scott (VA) Veasey (7) The War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. Perlmutter Scott, David Vela The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- 1541 et seq.) requires the President to consult ´ Peters Sewell (AL) Velazquez with Congress ‘‘in every possible instance’’ Peterson Shalala Visclosky ant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfin- Phillips Sherman Wasserman ished business is the question on agree- before introducing United States Armed Pingree Sherrill Schultz ing to the Speaker’s approval of the Forces into hostilities. Pocan Sires Waters Journal, which the Chair will put de (8) Congress has not authorized the Presi- dent to use military force against Iran. Porter Slotkin Watson Coleman novo. Pressley Smith (WA) Welch (b) TERMINATION.—Pursuant to section 5(c) Price (NC) Soto Wexton The question is on the Speaker’s ap- of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. Quigley Spanberger Wild proval of the Journal. 1544(c)), Congress hereby directs the Presi- Raskin Speier Wilson (FL) Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- dent to terminate the use of United States Rice (NY) Stanton Yarmuth nal stands approved. Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran or any part of its government or NAYS—193 f military, unless— Abraham Graves (GA) Palmer IRAN WAR POWERS RESOLUTION (1) Congress has declared war or enacted Aderholt Graves (LA) Pence specific statutory authorization for such use Allen Graves (MO) Perry Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, pursu- of the Armed Forces; or Amash Green (TN) Posey ant to House Resolution 781, I call up (2) such use of the Armed Forces is nec- Amodei Griffith Ratcliffe the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. essary and appropriate to defend against an Armstrong Grothman Reed 83) directing the President pursuant to imminent armed attack upon the United Arrington Guest Reschenthaler section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolu- States, its territories or possessions, or its Babin Guthrie Rice (SC) Armed Forces, consistent with the require- Bacon Hagedorn tion to terminate the use of United Riggleman ments of the War Powers Resolution. Baird Harris Roby States Armed Forces to engage in hos- (c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in Balderson Hartzler Rodgers (WA) Banks Hern, Kevin tilities in or against Iran, and ask for this section may be construed— Roe, David P. its immediate consideration. (1) to prevent the President from using Barr Herrera Beutler Rogers (AL) Bergman Hice (GA) Rogers (KY) The Clerk read the title of the con- military force against al Qaeda or associated Biggs Higgins (LA) Rooney (FL) current resolution. forces; Bilirakis Hill (AR) Rose, John W. (2) to limit the obligations of the executive Bishop (NC) Holding The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Rouzer branch set forth in the War Powers Resolu- Bishop (UT) Hollingsworth ant to House Resolution 781, the Roy tion (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.); Bost Hudson Rutherford amendment printed in House Report (3) to affect the provisions of an Act or Brady Huizenga Scalise 116–371 is adopted, and the concurrent Brooks (AL) Hurd (TX) joint resolution of Congress specifically au- Schweikert Brooks (IN) Johnson (LA) resolution, as amended, is considered thorizing the use of United States Armed Scott, Austin Buck Johnson (OH) read. Forces to engage in hostilities against Iran Bucshon Johnson (SD) Sensenbrenner The text of the concurrent resolu- or any part of its government or military Shimkus Budd Jordan tion, as amended, is as follows: that is enacted after the date of the adoption Burchett Joyce (OH) Smith (MO) of this concurrent resolution; Smith (NE) H. CON. RES. 83 Burgess Joyce (PA) (4) to prevent the use of necessary and ap- Byrne Katko Smith (NJ) Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Smucker propriate military force to defend United Calvert Keller Senate concurring), States allies and partners if authorized by Carter (GA) Kelly (MS) Spano SECTION 1. TERMINATION OF USE OF UNITED Carter (TX) Kelly (PA) Stauber Congress consistent with the requirements of STATES ARMED FORCES TO ENGAGE Chabot King (IA) Stefanik the War Powers Resolution; or IN HOSTILITIES IN OR AGAINST Cheney King (NY) Steil (5) to authorize the use of military force. IRAN. Cline Kinzinger Steube (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the fol- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The con- Cloud Kustoff (TN) Stewart current resolution, as amended, shall Cole LaHood Stivers lowing findings: Collins (GA) LaMalfa Taylor (1) The Government of Iran is a leading be debatable for 2 hours, equally di- Comer Lamborn Thompson (PA) state sponsor of terrorism and engages in a vided and controlled by the chair and Conaway Latta Thornberry range of destabilizing activities across the ranking minority member of the Com- Cook Lesko Timmons Middle East. Iranian General Qassem mittee on Foreign Affairs. Crenshaw Long Tipton Soleimani was the lead architect of much of The gentleman from New York (Mr. Cunningham Lucas Turner Iran’s destabilizing activities throughout the Curtis Luetkemeyer ENGEL) and the gentleman from Texas Upton world. Davidson (OH) Marchant (Mr. MCCAUL) each will control 1 hour. Van Drew (2) The United States has an inherent right Davis, Rodney Marshall Wagner The Chair recognizes the gentleman to self-defense against imminent armed at- DesJarlais Massie Walberg from New York. Diaz-Balart Mast Walden tacks. The United States maintains the right GENERAL LEAVE Duncan McCarthy Walker to ensure the safety of diplomatic personnel Dunn McCaul Walorski serving abroad. Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I ask Emmer McClintock Waltz (3) In matters of imminent armed attacks, unanimous consent that all Members Estes McHenry Watkins the executive branch should indicate to Con- Ferguson McKinley have 5 legislative days in which to re- Weber (TX) Fleischmann Meadows gress why military action was necessary vise and extend their remarks and in- Flores Meuser Webster (FL) within a certain window of opportunity, the clude extraneous material on H. Con. Fortenberry Miller Wenstrup possible harm that missing the window Westerman Res. 83, currently under consideration. Foxx (NC) Mitchell would cause, and why the action was likely The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Fulcher Moolenaar Williams to prevent future disastrous attacks against Gallagher Mooney (WV) Wilson (SC) the United States. objection to the request of the gen- Gianforte Mullin Wittman (4) The United States has national inter- tleman from New York? Womack Gibbs Murphy (NC) ests in preserving its partnership with Iraq There was no objection. Gohmert Newhouse Woodall Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield Gonzalez (OH) Norman Wright and other countries in the region, including Gooden Nunes Yoho by— myself such time as I may consume. Gosar Olson Young (A) combating terrorists, including the Is- We are here this afternoon so that Granger Palazzo Zeldin lamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS); this body can exercise one of its most

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