I intend to support President Bush’s request for Congress to authorize the use of military force against Iraq. In the days ahead, I will actively urge my congressional colleagues to immediately give President Bush this authority.

Saddam Hussein has been responsible for the murder and deaths of over one million people. How many more innocent people have to be killed by this madman before the world says enough is enough?

I believe this authorization of force is necessary to enforce the United Nations Security Council Resolutions against Iraq, and to defend America’s national security interests against the threat posed by Iraq. Saddam Hussein’s development of weapons of mass destruction, in violation of international sanctions, is a threat to the stability of the Middle East and to the security of all nations.

In using chemical weapons against his own citizens, Hussein has shown his clear willingness to use weapons of mass destruction. It is now our responsibility to stop him from using such weapons against American citizens at home or abroad.

My first major vote in Congress as a freshman in 1991 was to give then President George Bush the authority to use military force against Iraq. When I cast that vote, I hoped and prayed that I would never have to cast such a vote again, because the authorization of military force is the most solemn constitutional responsibility given to Members of Congress by our founding fathers.

Unfortunately, the same Saddam Hussein that made war necessary a decade ago, has now left America no choice but to say we will no longer tolerate his prolonged renunciation of United Nations resolutions designed to protect the world from his future use of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

The President and Congress have a profound obligation to protect American citizens from such weapons of mass destruction. The United States of America, as the one superpower in the world, also has a responsibility to ensure that the terrorist attacks of September 11th do not become a prelude for chemical, biological or nuclear terrorism anywhere in the world.

On January 11, 1991, in my first speech in the U.S. House of Representatives, I said this: ‘I had hoped and prayed that diplomacy, not war, would solve the Persian Gulf crisis. That is still my hope.’

I repeat those words today. I still hope that Saddam Hussein will finally recognize reality—the days of his reign of terror in Iraq will soon come to an end, along with the destruction of his weapons of mass destruction. Mr. Hussein can give up his authority and his weapons peacefully, or he can give them up after military defeat.

I applaud President Bush for standing up to the menace of Saddam Hussein. I also respect his decision to ask the U.S. Congress for an authorization of war. The Congressional debate and authorization of war against Iraq in 1991 unified our nation in a just cause. As a result, our servicemen and women in Desert Storm knew that America stood behind them. If our troops are put in harm’s way once again against Iraq, they, too, deserve to know that their country stands behind them.

I applaud President Bush’s recent challenge to the United Nations. The interest of our nation and all nations will be served if the U.N. enforces its resolutions against Saddam Hussein and Iraq.

My hope is that immediate, complete and unconditional U.N. inspections in Iraq, combined with Saddam Hussein’s relinquishment of power, will avert the need for war. Peaceful, multilateral action would minimize the threat of loss of life to Americans and maximize ongoing international cooperation in the war against terrorism.

However, neither the United Nations nor Saddam Hussein should underestimate America’s resolve in this matter. While our preference is for a peaceful, international solution to the Iraqi threat, the United States, will take whatever action is necessary to rid the world of the menace of Saddam Hussein and his arsenal of deadly weapons.

While there will be honest differences of conscience on a war resolution, as there should be in a democracy, I believe the authorization of force for President Bush will pass the Congress by a clear majority vote. Only then will Saddam Hussein understand that the days of his power and weapons arsenal are over, thus giving him his last chance to avert war and to save himself.

Should U.S. military action become necessary to protect America’s national security interests, I want every serviceman and woman to know that Congress will strongly support our Commander-in-Chief in providing you with whatever weapons and resources are needed to successfully carry out your vital mission of protecting American families from weapons of mass destruction.

Even as we move closer to possible military action in Iraq, we will continue to work and pray, together, for a peaceful solution to this international threat.