Tim Scott

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, when you look at what we are doing here today, the gentleman to the left got it wrong. The bottom line is that Members of the House of Representatives have a choice. They can do one of two or three things. They can vote for House Resolution 292, or they can vote for Concurrent Resolution 51. They can do both, or they can do neither. The fact of the matter is, to trivialize or to belittle the process we are undertaking on behalf of the American people ought to give us cause to pause and ask ourselves: Who is playing the games? We want the President of the United States to abide by the Constitution. You've heard Democrats and Republicans agree this morning on one clear fact: he didn't; and that's why we are here. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, our friends on the left continue to call House resolutions frivolous and meaningless. My good friend Mr. McGovern himself just last term had House Resolution 278, Global Securities Priorities Resolution. The fact of the matter is the House needs to position itself so the American people understand what this House is trying to convey to the President of the United States. The fact of the matter is this President continues to do things that, as a Senator, he said were inconsistent with the Constitution. So we are making sure that this House and the people who voted in this House are represented in the public forum. I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina. (Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. I yield 2 minutes to the chairman of the committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier). (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Denham).

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Just one clarification: The concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 51, does not become law. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson).

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. House Resolution 294 provides for a closed rule for consideration of two measures, House Concurrent Resolution 51 and House Resolution 292. This rule allows for the consideration of House Concurrent Resolution 51, consistent with the War Powers Act, and provides for an alternative measure introduced by the Speaker of the House. I support the Speaker's resolution and the ability to have up-or-down votes on both resolutions. This approach is consistent with the Speaker's and our conference's goal of a more open and transparent process, allowing the House to work its will on both resolutions. Members can vote for one of the resolutions, both of the resolutions, or neither of them. The underlying legislation addresses the administration's actions in Libya. Mr. Speaker, on March 19, 2011, President Obama ordered U.S. military intervention in Libya as a part of a multinational coalition. Well over 60 days later--let me say that one more time--over 60 days later the President has still not asked for, nor has he received, authorization from Congress to commit troops to such action. Mr. Speaker, article I of our Constitution states that Congress, and only Congress, has the power to declare war. This point was made best in 2007 by then-Senator Barack Obama, who said: ``The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the Nation.'' Just in case we missed that, the current President got it right in 2007 when he was a Senator. I want to quote him one more time. He said that ``the President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the Nation.'' While the United States must play offense in the war on terror, and we should not have to wait for threats to materialize before acting. It is not clear, it is simply not clear that Libya posed a threat to our Nation that justified the use of troops, the United States' troops. It is undeniable that Qadhafi is one of the most notorious terrorists of our time, and the world will be a better place when he is gone. But at the same time, there is no shortage of dictators who should be removed from power. Syria's Assad is butchering his own people as we speak. Iran, under Ahmadinejad, sponsors terrorism around the world, he persecutes religious minorities, and is working to develop a nuclear bomb. Moreover, the President has not outlined the purpose or the scope of our action in Libya. Is the objective the removal of Qadhafi from power? If so, who will replace Qadhafi? And what assurances do the American people have that the alternative will be any better than Qadhafi? House Resolution 292 accomplishes four objectives. First, it establishes that the President of the United States, President Obama, has not asked for congressional authorization for a military involvement in Libya, and that Congress has not granted such authority. Second, the resolution reasserts that Congress has the option to withhold funding for any unauthorized use of the United States Armed Forces, including such activities in Libya. Third, the resolution requires the President to provide within 14 days information to Congress which should have been provided from the start. Fourth, the resolution reaffirms the vote that Congress took just last week that says that there should be no U.S. troops on the ground in Libya unless they are there to rescue American troops. It is unfortunate, it is very unfortunate that our President has made this resolution necessary. Yet at the same time, we are mindful that the congressional action must consider our responsibilities to our allies, including those that are currently in harm's way. America keeps its promises. We keep our commitments. And we stand by our soldiers and our allies. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the rule. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. For the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 294 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, this rule lets the House work its will, without any question. You have a choice. Take the opportunity. Vote your conscience. This is a place where we are confident and not nervous, but we want to close in a bipartisan way because there's no doubt that we want Americans to come together. And I can think of no more appropriate way to close than to quote then-Senator Barack Obama once again: ``The President does not have the power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the Nation.''

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 342, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' Stated against:

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, finally, the Democrats do get it. What they get is, if they do not find a way to scare our senior citizens, they have no chance. When you cover the expenses of running this government and when you think about the fact that what the Democrats have proposed and what President Obama has proposed in his original budget is an increase of $8.7 trillion of new spending and $47 trillion of new spending in the next 10 years, the Democrats have finally found a way to cover their tracks, and it is on the backs of our senior citizens. There is no doubt that the 2012 budget plan that we have proposed has no impact, not only on our senior citizens who are receiving benefits today, but on those over the age of 55. Not only are the Democrats willing to scare our seniors based on nothing, but they want to go to 2 years after Medicare is bankrupt and then start having a conversation about numbers when Medicare would not exist under their plan. What we do under our plan is a simple thing. We strengthen and preserve Social Security and Medicare for the next generation. We understand that it is time to roll up our sleeves and to get serious about preserving the American Dream for the next generation. Our budget does that by cutting $6.2 trillion out of the deficit in the next 10 years and by creating more than 1 million jobs in the next 12 months-- but we go further. We simply say that you do not create more disincentives or higher taxes in order to improve our economy. Let us do exactly what the previous generation, the Greatest Generation, has done for us--pass on the American Dream in its entirety. We have a responsibility to the next generation in taking the tough road today in order to make the American Dream stronger tomorrow.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Woodall).

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lankford). (Mr. LANKFORD asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California, Chairman Dreier. (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I send to the desk a privileged concurrent resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.