I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1562
To prohibit the use of funds appropriated to the Department of Defense
from being used for the deployment of ground elements of the United
States Armed Forces in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia unless that
deployment is specifically authorized by law.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 26, 1999
Mrs. FOWLER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Inter-
national Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To prohibit the use of funds appropriated to the Department
of Defense from being used for the deployment of ground
elements of the United States Armed Forces in the Fed-
eral Republic of Yugoslavia unless that deployment is
specifically authorized by law.
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 ‘‘Military Operations
in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Limitation Act of
1999’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Consideration is being given to the introduc-
tion of ground elements of the United States Armed
Forces into the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as
part of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) operation to halt Serbian military action in
the Serbian province of Kosovo.
(2) Such a deployment, if it were to occur,
would in all likelihood represent a commitment to
maintain United States ground forces in the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia for an indeterminate period
and cost billions of dollars.
(3) The Secretary of Defense has previously op-
posed the deployment of United States ground forces
to Kosovo, a province of Serbia, as reflected in his
testimony before the Congress on October 6, 1998.
(4) The deployment of United States ground
forces to participate in the peacekeeping operation in
Bosnia, which has resulted in the expenditure of ap-
proximately $10,000,000,000 by United States tax-
payers to date, which has already been extended
past 2 previous withdrawal dates established by the
Administration, and which shows no sign of ending
in the near future, clearly argues that the costs and
duration of a deployment of United States ground
(C) have left the western Pacific region
without a United States aircraft carrier pres-
ence; and
(D) have compromised the ability of the
United States to perform other critical national
security missions, including Operation Northern
Watch in the airspace over Iraq, due to a lack
of available assets.
(7) The Congress has already indicated its con-
siderable concern about the possible deployment of
United States ground forces to the region, as evi-
denced by section 8115 of the Department of De-
fense Appropriations Act, 1999 (Public Law 105–
262; 112 Stat. 2327), which sets forth among other
matters a requirement for the President to transmit
to the Congress a report detailing the anticipated
costs, funding sources, schedule and exit strategy for
any additional United States Armed Forces deployed
to Yugoslavia, Albania, or Macedonia.
(8) The President, in his reports to the Con-
gress in response to section 8115 of the Department
of Defense Appropriations Act, 1999, has indicated
that ‘‘it is not possible to determine how long NATO
operations will need to continue . . .’’ and that the
exit strategy for United States Armed Forces ‘‘will
depend on the course of events, and in particular, on
Belgrade’s reaction to NATO operations.’’.
(9) The introduction of United States Armed
Forces into hostilities, or into situations where im-
minent involvement in hostilities may occur, clearly
indicates authorization by the Congress when such
action is not required for the defense of the United
States, its Armed Forces, or its nationals.
(10) United States national security interests in
Kosovo do not rise to a level that warrants the intro-
duction of United States ground forces in the Fed-
eral Republic of Yugoslavia for peacemaking or
peacekeeping purposes with respect to the conflict in
Kosovo.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON USE OF DEPARTMENT OF DE-
FENSE FUNDS FOR DEPLOYMENT OF UNITED
STATES GROUND FORCES TO THE FEDERAL
REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA WITHOUT SPE-
CIFIC AUTHORIZATION BY LAW.
(a) IN GENERAL.—None of the funds appropriated
or otherwise available to the Department of Defense may
be obligated or expended for the deployment of ground ele-
ments of the United States Armed Forces in the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia unless such deployment is specifi-
cally authorized by a law enacted after the enactment of
this Act.
(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—The prohibition in
subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to the authority
of the President under the Constitution to initiate mis-
sions specifically limited to rescuing United States mili-
tary personnel or citizens in the Federal Republic of Yugo-
slavia.
Æ