Van Hollen Statement on Proposed AUMF

Statement

Today Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen released the following statement on the Administration's proposed Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) to combat ISIL:

"The power to declare war and the power to grant the Executive the authority to engage in sustained military operations are among the most solemn responsibilities granted to Congress under the Constitution. I support the military operations the President is currently conducting against ISIL, including the use of American air power against ISIL targets and in support of Iraqi and Kurdish forces, as well as the deployment of limited numbers of American troops to help train and equip those forces. I would support an Authorization for Use of Military Force tailored to support the current operations.

"I will carefully review the President's proposed AUMF and listen to the testimony presented. However, I have two serious concerns about the proposed draft. First, it provides overly-broad, fresh authority for the deployment of U.S. ground forces in combat operations in Iraq, Syria, and any other countries in which ISIL or its affiliates may be operating. Second, it leaves in place indefinitely the blank check authority granted to the Executive in the 2001 AUMF. It makes little sense to place reasonable boundaries on the Executive's war powers against ISIL while leaving them unchecked elsewhere.

"In the weeks ahead, I look forward to working with the White House and my colleagues in Congress to pass an AUMF that provides the authority necessary to degrade and defeat ISIL without dragging the United States into another unnecessary ground war in the Middle East."

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