Regarding Deployment of United States Armed Forces in Libya

Floor Speech

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Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. I rise in support, as so many of my colleagues have, of House Resolution 292, because this Congress is a coequal branch of government, and we must never be a quiet coequal branch, especially on military matters.

When the U.S. sends its sons and daughters into harm's way, it must only be done to protect America's vital national security interests and where there is a clear plan to advance those interests.

We know our Nation is insolvent, with a national debt of over $14 trillion. Our troops are already overextended, we're hearing, in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Meanwhile, the administration is talking about defense spending cuts at the very same time it's piling on this new mission, a humanitarian mission, a narrow humanitarian mission, we're told, on top of all our other commitments.

Now what gives? This Congress needs to be heard. Our President has failed to properly define what vital national security interests justify this military intervention, and with this resolution, we give him 14 days to do so. Sadly and ironically, by becoming involved in Libya, our NATO alliance, which does remain a vitally important national security interest, may well have been put at risk.

This Congress will be heard.

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