In view of these and other serious objections to the expansion of NATO, the Coalition Against NATO Expansion demands that the Congress of the United States do its duty. First, both Houses of Congress should debate every aspect of NATO expansion extensively and exhaustively. The principal responsibility lies with the Senate. There, the Foreign Relations Committee should schedule sufficient additional hearings that the American people are drawn into the debate. Again, all sides should be heard, not just voices for the Administration.
Major treaties are too important to be left to the diplomats.
Because tens of billions of dollars in taxpayers' money is involved in this decision, the House of Representatives also has a role to play. Any implementing legislation would have to pass the House as well as the Senate. At the very least, hearings should be held by the House Budget and Appropriations committees. Second, the Senate should allow sufficient time to debate NATO expansion on the floor after adequate hearings have been held. A vote on final passage should be preceded by at least a week of serious debate and should not be held until an informed American citizenry can make its voice heard.