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B-133001, MAY 12, 1976, 55 COMP.GEN. 1081

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Highlights

COURTS HAVE SUSTAINED OR ALLUDED TO SUCH AUTHORITY AND ITS EXERCISE HAS CONSIDERABLE HISTORICAL SUPPORT. LANGUAGE OF WAR POWERS RESOLUTION AS WHOLE INDICATES IT WAS NOT MEANT TO DIRECTLY RESTRICT PRESIDENT'S POWER. EXECUTIVE BRANCH TESTIMONY INDICATES THAT BOMBING STRIKES WERE RELATED TO THE RESCUE OPERATION. WHILE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF SEVEN ACTS IS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR RESPECTING PRESIDENT'S RESCUE POWER. THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC STATEMENTS THAT SUCH POWER IS NOT RESTRICTED. THE OVERALL INTENT OF SEVEN ACTS WAS TO CURTAIL BOMBING AND OFFENSIVE MILITARY ACTION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. APPROPRIATIONS - AVAILABILITY - EVACUATION OF FOREIGN NATIONALS THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL PRESIDENTIAL AUTHORITY TO RESCUE FOREIGN NATIONALS AS SUCH.

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