Statement of Senator Coons on the Administration’s authorization for the use of military force against ISIL

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on Wednesday on the Administration’s proposed authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). 

“Democrats and Republicans must work together to bring the heinous acts of violence perpetrated by the Islamic State to an end,” Senator Coons said. “I support the President's goal of a bipartisan, limited Congressional authorization for U.S. military action to stop ISIL, and his draft is a strong place to resume the important debate Congress started in December. The President’s draft acknowledges some of the key provisions of the draft AUMF adopted by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in December — a three-year sunset on the authorization, the repeal of the 2002 AUMF for Iraq, and a limitation on enduring ground troops. Congress still has work to do, though, in finding a way to authorize this necessary fight without bogging down our nation and our troops in an endless conflict. We have no more sacred duty than deciding when to send brave young Americans into combat. I appreciate the effort that the Obama Administration has made to work with Congress on a viable authorization and look forward to Congress debating, strengthening, and voting on this AUMF.”

When the Senate Foreign Relations Committee considered a different draft AUMF in December, it included an amendment introduced by Senator Coons that insisted that, “any funds made available for activities authorized by this joint resolution should be fully offset through reduced spending, increased revenue, or both.” Senator Coons plans to introduce a similar amendment to the President’s draft AUMF.

“We cannot write another blank check for war,” Senator Coons said. “Paying for war is not only fiscally, but also morally, responsible. It’s not right to expect our troops and their families to be the only people to sacrifice. It is the duty of the Congress, as we debate the scope and strategy for this conflict, to also look squarely at its cost and how to pay for it.”