President Obama will send Congress his proposal for a new authorization for the use of military force against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria this week.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the administration continues to work with a bipartisan group in Congress on the language for the Authorization for the Use of Military Force against ISIS.
“We’re hopeful we can provide that language very soon … and relatively soon would include any of the days remaining in this week,” he said.
Earnest also stressed the importance of the language having strong bipartisan support and of Congress acting swiftly to pass it.
“The president does believe that this message is even more powerful if it has bipartisan support,” he said. “We’ve stepped up our engagement with Democrats and Republicans.”
While Earnest declined to discuss the contents of the legislative language under consideration, he said the president is seeking the “right-sized AUMF” and said he is looking forward to seeing Congress support the campaign to” degrade and destroy [the Islamic State].”
Asked whether the Islamic State would be destroyed in Obama’s remaining two years in office, Earnest signaled that it is a longer-term prospect.
“The president has been very clear that what we’re looking at here is a longer-term challenge,” he said.
