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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: May 6, 1999

During Debate On
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1664, KOSOVO AND SOUTHWEST ASIA EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT

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HON. RON PAUL
OF TEXAS

Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time to me.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule. The rule is far from perfect, but it allows adequate debate, and it will certainly allow us who think that it is unwise to increase the spending to vote against the spending. It certainly allows an opportunity for those who think that we should double the spending to explain why we should spend so much money on a war that we have not declared.

Mr. Speaker, we have to realize that this war has been pursued for over a month. We have not appropriated the funds, so whether or not we act today, the war will continue, unfortunately. The war has not been declared, but if we go ahead and fund it, we become partners in this war. I do not think that is a wise policy. We should not provide the funding.

Mr. Speaker, there is a fallacy, that floats around this House that says that if we increase the funding for the military, we will have greater defense. That reminds me of the accusation from the right that always challenges the left that says, if there is a social problem, all you want ever to do is throw more money at it. The worse the problem gets, the more money they want to spend on the social problem.

It seems like the worse our defense gets and the more we get into quagmires around the world and the more we accept the policy of policing the world, all we seem to do is come back and say, well, if we just put more money in it, everything is going to be okay.

But if we are in a quagmire, if we are following a policy that is unwise, the money might just make conditions much worse. I think this is why we must defeat the spending on this program, because the problems with what is happening in Bosnia and Kosovo and Iraq will be compounded as long as the administration has the money to fund the war.

Yes, I am for a strong national defense, but if the policy is wrong, it will undermine all the spending. The money will actually be wasted. Funding encourages a policy that is in error. Funding is an endorsement of the war. We must realize that it is equivalent to it. We have not declared this war. If we fund it, we essentially become partners in this ill-advised war.

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder).

Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in favor of this rule, despite my disappointment with several of my amendments not receiving waivers.

There will be lots of seemingly contradictory statements made during today's debate about this bill. Some will say this bill is about rebuilding our military, which it is. Some will say it is about raising the pay of our courageous men and women in service, which it is. Some will say it gives the administration the dollars which not only will escalate this war, but possibly expand it to a ground war, which it does.

This modified open rule not only restricts amendments that would have moved needed national defense funds to other appropriations categories, but also restricts a number, under House rules, of amendments that could have prohibited the buildup of the war, such as an amendment by my colleague, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Dan Burton).

Overwhelmingly, the House had passed an amendment that would have restricted a ground war, but it is not allowed under this bill, where it would have had the force of law. Several amendments of mine that would have reached back were also prohibited.

So while there are a number of waivers, there are not any waivers for those of us who were trying to affect some of the ability of previous funds to be moved around.

However, by allowing a modified open rule, it still gives many of us the flexibility to offer amendments that are within the House rules that will greatly restrict this Administration's ability to escalate and expand this war, and possibly even force the needed peace settlement that is pending. Our House vote last week clearly pushed the administration towards that, along with the work of Reverend Jesse Jackson.