Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement after the Senate defeated an amendment to the NDAA that would limit the president's authority to use military force against Iran:
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"At a time when there are heightened tensions between the U.S. and the Iranian regime -- with reports the regime will breach its uranium stockpile limit any day now -- the president needs the support of Congress, not irresponsible restrictions. This amendment would have tied the hands of our commanders in the field and undermined U.S. national security interests.
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"We should be united as we look to defend our troops in the region. I am glad that many of my colleagues joined me in voting down this amendment, and look forward to a robust, thoughtful discussion on the Authorization of Use of Military Force (AUMF) in the coming weeks in the Foreign Relations Committee."
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