Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 3.djvu/317

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PUBLIC LAW 105-261—OCT. 17, 1998 112 STAT. 2147 included in the budget of the President for fiscal year 1999, as submitted to Congress on February 2, 1998. (13) The President requested $1,858,600,000 in emergency appropriations in his March 4, 1998, amendment to the fiscal year 1999 budget to cover the shortfall in funding in fiscal year 1999 for the costs of extending the mission in Bosnia. SEC. 1202. SENSE OF CONGRESS. (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS CONCERNING UNITED STATES FORCES AND ACCOMPLISHMENT OF TASKS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA.— It is the sense of Congress that— (1) United States ground combat forces should not remain in Bosnia and Herzegovina indefinitely in view of the worldwide commitments of the Armed Forces of the United States; (2) the President should work with NATO allies and the other nations whose military forces are participating in the NATO-led Stabilization Force to withdraw United States ground combat forces from Bosnia and Herzegovina within a reasonable period of time, consistent with the safety of those forces and the accomplishment of the Stabilization Forces military tasks; (3) a NATO-led force without the participation of United States ground combat forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina might be suitable for a follow-on force for Bosnia and Herzegovina if the European Security and Defense Identity is not sufficiently developed or is otherwise considered inappropriate for such a mission; and (4) the United States may decide to provide appropriate support to a Western European Union-led or NATO-led followon force for Bosnia and Herzegovina, including command and control, intelligence, logistics, and, if necessary, a ready reserve force in the region. (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS CONCERNING PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS.— It is the sense of Congress that the President— (1) should inform the European NATO allies of the expression of the sense of Congress in subsection (a) and should strongly urge them to undertake preparations for establishing a Western European Union-led or a NATO-led force as a followon force to the Stabilization Force if needed to maintain peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and (2) should consult closely with the congressional leadership and the congressional defense committees with respect to the progress being made toward achieving a sustainable peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the progress being made toward a reduction and ultimate withdrawal of United States ground combat forces from Bosnia and Herzegovina. (c) SENSE OF CONGRESS CONCERNING DEFENSE BUDGET. —I t is the sense of Congress that— (1) the President should include in the budget for the Department of Defense that the President submits to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, for each fiscal year sufficient amounts to pay for any proposed continuation of the participation of United States forces in NATO operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina during that fiscal year; and