HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 HJM 4022

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                    Government Operations

Brief Description:  Petitioning Congress to limit involvement in world bodies.

Sponsors:  Representatives Fuhrman, Cairnes, Thompson, Boldt, Skinner, Pennington, Koster, Mielke, McMorris, D. Schmidt, Sheahan, Goldsmith, Crouse, Padden, Stevens, Backlund, Carrell, Sherstad, Pelesky, Buck, Blanton, Delvin, Johnson, Smith, Campbell, Elliot, Reams, Casada, Brumsickle, Hargrove, McMahan, Hymes, Mulliken, Chandler, Benton, Schoesler, Talcott and Sheldon.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Government Operations:  2/24/95, 2/28/95 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Reams, Chairman; Goldsmith, Vice Chairman; L. Thomas, Vice Chairman; Hargrove; Honeyford; Hymes; Mulliken and D. Schmidt.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 7 members:  Representatives Rust, Ranking Minority Member; Scott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chopp; R. Fisher; Sommers; Van Luven and Wolfe.

Staff:  Bonnie Austin (786-7135).

Background:  Article I, section 8 of the United States Constitution grants to Congress the power to declare war, provide for the common defense, raise and support armies, provide and maintain a navy, and make rules governing land and naval forces.  Article I, section 8 also grants to Congress the power to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia, for governing such parts of the militia as may be employed in the service of the United States, and for calling forth the militia to suppress insurrections and repel invasions.  Article II, section 2 of the United States Constitution makes the President the Commander in Chief of the United States Army and Navy, and of the state militia when called into actual service of the United States.

Summary of Bill: Congress is urged to cease appropriating funds for any military activity not authorized by Congress and to not engage in any military activity under the authority of the United Nations or any world body.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Testimony For:  The constitutional role of the military is to protect the United States against insurrection and foreign invasion.  It is not the role of the United States military to protect the world.  Involvement in United Nations peacekeeping activities threatens our economy.  We do not want world government.  The United Nations is a war-making body.   We are offended when we see US troops wearing the blue helmets.  The UN is attempting to disarm the world and gain control of people's lives.  The United States pays for 70 percent of UN operating costs, yet the General Assembly votes against the position of the US over 60 percent of the time.  This resolution does not include NATO, because NATO is not a world body.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Fuhrman, prime sponsor; Jeanne Brown, citizen, Gracie Sudano, citizen; George Laffin, citizen; and Susan Fuhrman, citizen.