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Washington, DC – Congressman Brett Guthrie today issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s request to authorize the use of military force against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL):

“ISIL has posed a serious threat to our national security and our allies abroad for several months.  In the time since President Obama addressed the nation in September 2014, we have formed regional and global alliances to fight ISIL, yet their reach has spread and their attacks have continued.  Given the seriousness of the threat, I believe we must continue our fight to completely destroy this evil force. 

“It has been 13 years since a president has requested an authorization for the use of military force (AUMF).  Only a small fraction of today’s Members of Congress held office when the 2001 authorization was passed, and it is our duty now to look at what the president has proposed, make changes where necessary and authorize the president to take action against ISIL.

“I will be closely following the president’s proposal as it advances through Congress.  My primary concern is that the AUMF provide strong enough authority for the president to take any actions necessary to destroy ISIL, without placing limitations on available strategies or resources.  We should not be telling our enemies exactly what we will or will not do.”

The president’s proposed AUMF would sunset after three years unless reauthorized and would require the president to report every six months on specific actions taken pursuant to the authorization.  Further, it would repeal the 2002 AUMF, which authorized strikes against Iraq, and would prevent the president from engaging in “enduring offensive ground combat operations.”  The 2001 AUMF authorized actions taken against those responsible for the attacks on September 11, 2001.

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