Uploaded March 2021 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
Congresswoman Barbara Lee gave this speech on September 14, 2001, when she, the lone voice, cast the only vote in Congress against giving President Bush - a blank check to wage war in the wake of 9/11. The vote in response to 9/11 was on the joint resolution of the Senate and House Of Representatives cited as the "Authorization for Use of Military Force" - PUBLIC LAW 107–40--SEPT. 18, 2001.
Transcription:
Mr. Speaker, members, I rise today really with a very heavy heart, one that is filled with sorrow for the families and the loved ones who were killed and injured this week. Only the most foolish and the most calloused would not understand the grief that has really gripped our people and millions across the world. This unspeakable act on the United States has really forced me, however, to rely on my moral compass, my conscience, and my God for direction.
September 11th changed the world. Our deepest fears now haunt us. Yet I'm convinced that military action will not prevent further acts of international terrorism against the United States. This is a very complex and complicated matter. Now, this resolution will pass, although we all know that the president can wage a war without it. However difficult this vote may be, some of us must urge the use of restraint.
Our country's in a state of mourning. Some of us must stay "Let's step back for a moment. Let's just pause, just for a minute, and think through the implications of our actions today, so that this does not spiral out of control."
Now, I have agonized over this vote, but I came to grips with it today and I came to grips with opposing this resolution during the very painful yet very beautiful memorial service. As a member of the clergy so eloquently said, "As we act, let us not become the evil that we deplore."
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Partial Speech (For Congressional Record):
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart, one that is filled with sorrow for the families and loved ones who were killed and injured in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Only the most foolish or the most callous would not understand the grief that has gripped the American people and millions around the world.
This unspeakable attack on the United States has forced me to rely on my moral compass, my conscience, and my God for direction.
September 11 changed the world. Our deepest fears now haunt us. Yet I am convinced that military action will not prevent further acts of international terrorism against the United States.
I know that this use-of-force resolution will pass although we all know that the President can wage war even without this resolution. However difficult this vote may be, some of us must urge the use of restraint. There must be some of us who say, let’s step back for a moment and think through the implications of our actions today-let us more fully understand their consequences.
We are not dealing with a conventional war. We cannot respond in a conventional manner. I do not want to see this spiral out of control. This crisis involves issues of national security, foreign policy, public safety, intelligence gathering, economics, and murder. Our response must be equally multifaceted.
We must not rush to judgment. For too many innocent people have already died. Our country is in mourning. If we rush to launch a counterattack, we run too great a risk that woman, children, and other non-combatants will be caught in the crossfire.
Nor can we let our justified anger over these outrageous acts by vicious murderers inflame prejudice against all Arab Americans, Muslim, Southeast Asians, and any other people because of their race, religion, or ethnicity.
Finally, we must be careful not to embark on an open-ended war with neither an exit strategy nor a focused target. We cannot repeat past mistakes.
. . .
Barbara Lee's Full Speech (For Congressional Record)
wagingpeace.org/rep-barbara-lees-speech-opposing-the-post-9-11-use-of-force-act
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Tags: Congresswoman, Barbara Lee, War, Military, 9/11, Joint Resolution, Congress, People, World, Restraint, National Security, Foreign Policy, Public Safety, Terrorism, House of Representatives, Senate,
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YouTube
youtu.be/r0v7E-N3VAQ
--
Links
"Authorization for Use of Military Force" - PUBLIC LAW 107–40--SEPT. 18, 2001
govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-107publ40/pdf/PLAW-107publ40.pdf
--
Also, this show is available for local public TV stations to broadcast.
Phone your local public TV station (LPTV) to request they broadcast this film to your local community. Your station can download the film in TV broadcast format, HD or SD, from www.PEGMedia.org . This film is available for broadcast from any LPTV station in the country - and world. Stations that use Telvue, DVDs or other media can contact us for instructions.
--
Website
Website: lee.house.gov
Facebook: facebook.com/RepBarbaraLee
Twitter: twitter.com/repbarbaralee
Instagram: instagram.com/repbarbaralee
--
Congresswoman Barbara Lee gave this speech on September 14, 2001, when she, the lone voice, cast the only vote in Congress against giving President Bush - a blank check to wage war in the wake of 9/11. The vote in response to 9/11 was on the joint resolution of the Senate and House Of Representatives cited as the "Authorization for Use of Military Force" - PUBLIC LAW 107–40--SEPT. 18, 2001.
Transcription:
Mr. Speaker, members, I rise today really with a very heavy heart, one that is filled with sorrow for the families and the loved ones who were killed and injured this week. Only the most foolish and the most calloused would not understand the grief that has really gripped our people and millions across the world. This unspeakable act on the United States has really forced me, however, to rely on my moral compass, my conscience, and my God for direction.
September 11th changed the world. Our deepest fears now haunt us. Yet I'm convinced that military action will not prevent further acts of international terrorism against the United States. This is a very complex and complicated matter. Now, this resolution will pass, although we all know that the president can wage a war without it. However difficult this vote may be, some of us must urge the use of restraint.
Our country's in a state of mourning. Some of us must stay "Let's step back for a moment. Let's just pause, just for a minute, and think through the implications of our actions today, so that this does not spiral out of control."
Now, I have agonized over this vote, but I came to grips with it today and I came to grips with opposing this resolution during the very painful yet very beautiful memorial service. As a member of the clergy so eloquently said, "As we act, let us not become the evil that we deplore."
--
Partial Speech (For Congressional Record):
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart, one that is filled with sorrow for the families and loved ones who were killed and injured in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Only the most foolish or the most callous would not understand the grief that has gripped the American people and millions around the world.
This unspeakable attack on the United States has forced me to rely on my moral compass, my conscience, and my God for direction.
September 11 changed the world. Our deepest fears now haunt us. Yet I am convinced that military action will not prevent further acts of international terrorism against the United States.
I know that this use-of-force resolution will pass although we all know that the President can wage war even without this resolution. However difficult this vote may be, some of us must urge the use of restraint. There must be some of us who say, let’s step back for a moment and think through the implications of our actions today-let us more fully understand their consequences.
We are not dealing with a conventional war. We cannot respond in a conventional manner. I do not want to see this spiral out of control. This crisis involves issues of national security, foreign policy, public safety, intelligence gathering, economics, and murder. Our response must be equally multifaceted.
We must not rush to judgment. For too many innocent people have already died. Our country is in mourning. If we rush to launch a counterattack, we run too great a risk that woman, children, and other non-combatants will be caught in the crossfire.
Nor can we let our justified anger over these outrageous acts by vicious murderers inflame prejudice against all Arab Americans, Muslim, Southeast Asians, and any other people because of their race, religion, or ethnicity.
Finally, we must be careful not to embark on an open-ended war with neither an exit strategy nor a focused target. We cannot repeat past mistakes.
. . .
Barbara Lee's Full Speech (For Congressional Record)
wagingpeace.org/rep-barbara-lees-speech-opposing-the-post-9-11-use-of-force-act
--
Tags: Congresswoman, Barbara Lee, War, Military, 9/11, Joint Resolution, Congress, People, World, Restraint, National Security, Foreign Policy, Public Safety, Terrorism, House of Representatives, Senate,
--
YouTube
youtu.be/r0v7E-N3VAQ
--
Links
"Authorization for Use of Military Force" - PUBLIC LAW 107–40--SEPT. 18, 2001
govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-107publ40/pdf/PLAW-107publ40.pdf
--
Also, this show is available for local public TV stations to broadcast.
Phone your local public TV station (LPTV) to request they broadcast this film to your local community. Your station can download the film in TV broadcast format, HD or SD, from www.PEGMedia.org . This film is available for broadcast from any LPTV station in the country - and world. Stations that use Telvue, DVDs or other media can contact us for instructions.
--
Website
Website: lee.house.gov
Facebook: facebook.com/RepBarbaraLee
Twitter: twitter.com/repbarbaralee
Instagram: instagram.com/repbarbaralee
--
