A bipartisan coalition is stepping up pressure to debate and vote on a resolution authorizing President Obama to use U.S. military force in the Middle East.
Twelve lawmakers, six Democrats and six Republicans signed a letter sent Friday to Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., calling for a vote when lawmakers return after the midterm elections.
The lawmakers said they believe Obama is already engaging in “sustained combat operations in Iraq,” which they said requires the approval of Congress.
“We believe such a debate and vote is required,” said the letter, signed by Reps. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., and Tom Cole, R-Okla., among others.
House lawmakers noted in the letter that they voted overwhelmingly in July on a measure prohibiting the president “from deploying or maintaining United States Armed Forces in a sustained combat role in Iraq,” without Congressional authorization.
Obama has authorized U.S. airstrikes in both Iraq and Syria and has deployed approximately 1,600 troops to serve in an advisory role in Iraq, all in an effort to combat the growing threat of Islamic terrorists.
Congress last week approved legislation allowing Obama to arm and train so-called moderate Syrian rebels to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, but lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are clamoring for a broader debate on expanding U.S. military action in the Middle East.
