In a short and direct statement Friday, Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) presented the case for Congress debating and voting on the United States military intervention in the Middle East that the Obama administration has now escalated with the announced insertion of US special forces into the fighting in Syria.
“Make no mistake, this is war,” says Welch. “When will Congress finally accept its responsibility?” Welch asks. Welch follows his query by noting that “[t]he Constitution is clear that only Congress can authorize war.”
Read here Welch’s complete statement from his House of Representatives website:
Statement of Rep. Peter Welch in Response to White House Announcement on Syria
“This announcement raises serious questions about the Administration’s strategy in the region. There may be credible answers but, without the engagement of Congress consistent with the requirements of the Constitution, the American people will not get the answers to which they are entitled.
The biggest question raised by today’s announcement is, ‘When will Congress finally accept its responsibility?’ The Constitution is clear that only Congress can authorize war.
Make no mistake about it, this is a war. Yet, the legal framework justifying this war is loosely tied to the fumes of a Congressional authorization approved in response to the 9/11 attack on America over 14 years ago.
A civil war in Syria did not exist 14 years ago. ISIS did not exist 14 years ago. Neither the United States nor Russia were conducting military operations in Syria 14 years ago.
Every Member of Congress should debate and vote on the Administration’s strategy. No more bobbing and weaving. We need to do our job.”
Will new House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) assent to the call of Welch and other representatives for a debate and vote on the ISIS War, or will Ryan block, as did former Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), the House from fulfilling its responsibility?
