I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3405
To establish a standing consultative group within the Congress to facilitate
consultations between the Congress and the Executive Branch with re-
spect to the use of United States military force abroad.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 28, 1993
Mr. HAMILTON (for himself, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. BEREUTER, Mr.
GEJDENSON, Mr. JOHNSTON of Florida, and Mr. DELLUMS) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Rules
A BILL
To establish a standing consultative group within the Con-
gress to facilitate consultations between the Congress
and the Executive Branch with respect to the use of
United States military force abroad.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Consultation Act of
1993’’.
SEC. 2. STANDING CONSULTATIVE GROUP.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There shall be within the
Congress a group of Members of Congress to be known
as the Standing Consultative Group (hereinafter in this
Act referred to as the ‘‘Consultative Group’’).
(b) PURPOSE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—(A) The purpose of the Con-
sultative Group shall be to facilitate improved inter-
action between the Executive branch and the Con-
gress with respect to the use of United States mili-
tary force abroad, including any such use described
in section 3 and section 4(a) of the War Powers
Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1542 and 1543(a)).
(B) To the fullest extent practicable, consulta-
tions in accordance with this subsection should occur
before the United States engages in discussions
within the United Nations, within any regional orga-
nization in which the United States participates, or
with other countries on the possible use of United
States military force abroad, including in particular
any such use under Chapter VII of the United Na-
tions Charter and any such use that might involve
placing elements of the United States Armed Forces
under the operational control of a foreign national.
(2) REGULAR
CONSULTATIONS.—In carrying
out paragraph (1), the Consultative Group and the
President (or senior members of the administration
involved with national security issues) should meet
regularly for discussions and consultations.
(3) SPECIAL
CONSULTATIONS.—The Consult-
ative Group and the President (or senior members of
the administration involved with national security is-
sues) should also meet whenever United States mili-
tary action abroad is being considered by the Presi-
dent and senior members of the administration.
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Consultative Group shall
consist of the following Members of Congress:
(1) 
HOUSE
OF
REPRESENTATIVES.—Those
Members of the House of Representatives designated
by the Speaker of the House (after consultation with
the minority leader of the House). The Members so
designated should include majority and correspond-
ing minority representatives of the House leadership
and the following committees: the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Armed Services,
the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,
and the Committee on Appropriations.
(2) SENATE.—Those Senators designated by
the majority leader of the Senate (after consultation
with the minority leader of the Senate). The Sen-
ators so designated should include majority and cor-
responding minority representatives of the Senate
leadership and the following committees: the Com-
mittee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on
Armed Services, the Select Committee on Intel-
ligence, and the Committee on Appropriations.
(d) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the term
‘‘Member’’ includes, in the case of the House of Rep-
resentatives, the Resident Commissioner to the United
States from Puerto Rico and Delegates to the House.
SEC. 3. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
The conduct of consultations pursuant to section 2(b)
of this Act with respect to a possible or an ongoing United
States military action abroad shall not be construed as
a grant of authority from the Congress to the President
to conduct such military action.
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