Press Releases

Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02) released the following statement on this week’s announcementthat the United States will deploy special operations troops to conduct raids in Iraq and Syria as part of the war against ISIS.

In November, Congressman McGovern led a bipartisan group of 35 House lawmakers in a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan calling for a debate and vote on an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) for the U.S. military engagement against ISIS. Earlier this year, Congressman McGovern led a bipartisan push to force a vote on an AUMF.

“With the U.S. deployment of special operations troops to conduct raids in Iraq and Syria, more and more of our brave men and women in uniform are headed to the frontlines of this conflict. Unfortunately, while we put more American soldiers in harm’s way, Congress continues to sit on the sidelines.

“The American people elected us to lead, not to ignore our constitutional responsibility when it comes to matters of war. Yet it has now been nearly 300 days since President Obama sent a draft military authorization to Congress and we are still waiting for House Republican leaders to act.

“In November, I led a broad bipartisan group of 35 House lawmakers in a call for Speaker Ryan to end the delay and bring an AUMF to the House floor for a debate and vote.

“Some members of Congress think we need to expand our military presence. Others, like myself, are skeptical about escalating our involvement in the conflict. Where Republicans and Democrats strongly agree is on the need for Congress to have a say. We need to debate and vote on an AUMF that clearly defines the U.S. military campaign against ISIS. We cannot wait any longer.”

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