STATEMENT OF U.S. REP. JIM MCGOVERN ON THE PRESIDENT’S ANNOUNCEMENT ON AFGHANISTAN

Washington, DC, May 27, 2014
I continue to believe that maintaining any troop presence after 2014 should be specifically authorized by a vote in Congress. We are at war. And for far too long, Congress has failed in its most basic oversight and authorization responsibilities.

“While I want to see all the troops come home by the end of the year, I welcome the President’s clarification regarding the mission and timetable for U.S. forces in Afghanistan.  But I continue to believe that maintaining any troop presence after 2014 should be specifically authorized by a vote in Congress.  We are at war.  And for far too long, Congress has failed in its most basic oversight and authorization responsibilities.  We have been bystanders instead of active participants.  That has to change.  We owe it to the American people – particularly our brave service members and their families – to debate and vote on this policy.”

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