NEWARK, NJ – U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued this statement regarding pursuing an Authorization for Use of Military Force following President Obama’s press conference.
“I welcome President Obama’s statement today expressing his desire to work with Congress in seeking an ISIL-specific Authorization for Use of Military Force. We will work at once with the President to draft a tailored AUMF, providing the additional authority required to continue operations to defeat, dismantle, and degrade the ISIL threat. This violent terrorist organization threatens U.S. national security, our international allies and partners, and is destabilizing the Middle East. The U.S. is leading a broad international coalition of countries, working to contain and ultimately eliminate the ISIL threat. It is incumbent that Congress take the lead in authorizing the use of force and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will initiate this process in the days ahead. Beginning next week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold hearings on the ongoing U.S. military engagement in Iraq and Syria. In September, before the Senate recess began, I made clear my view that a new AUMF would be necessary and believe that any prolonged military campaign requires a new congressionally-approved AUMF.”
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