Unanimous Consent Request --H.R. 1905

Floor Speech

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Mr. PAUL. Reserving the right to object, I am amazed the majority party objects to an amendment that simply restates the Constitution. Our Founding Fathers feared granting power to declare war to the Executive. They were quite concerned that the Executive can become like a King. Many in this body could not get boots on the ground fast enough in a variety of places, from Syria to Libya to Iran. We don't just send boots to war; we send our young Americans to war. Our young men and women, our soldiers, deserve thoughtful debate. Before sending our young men and women into combat, we should have a mature and thoughtful debate over the ramifications of war, over the advisability of war, and over the objectives of the war. James Madison wrote:

..... that the Constitution supposes what history demonstrates, that the Executive is a branch most interested in war, and most prone to it. Therefore, the Constitution, with studied care, vested that power in the legislature.

My amendment is one sentence long. It states that nothing in this act is to be construed as a declaration of war or as an authorization of the use of military force in Iran or Syria.

I urge that we not begin a new war without a full debate, without a vote, without careful consideration of the ramifications of a third or even a fourth war in this past decade. I, therefore, respectfully, object.

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