Scott Statement on U.S. Missile Strikes Against Assad Regime

Statement

Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on last night's U.S. missile strikes in response to the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad's use of chemical weapons against Syrian civilians:

"I am deeply disturbed by the Assad regime's continued use of chemical weapons against innocent Syrian civilians. This and the many other crimes against humanity committed by the Assad regime must be addressed by the entire international community.

"The missile strikes launched by President Trump last night appear to be a proportional and justified response to these latest atrocities. However, the President must present a comprehensive plan to Congress and the American people on how his Administration intends to address this situation, ensure that the United Nations and our allies in the Middle East will participate in this effort, and how these strikes fit into that strategy. If the President intends to commit our military to a sustained and prolonged military intervention in Syria, he must seek a new Authorization of Use of Military Force from Congress. This will allow Congress to exercise its constitutional prerogative to assess the current situation, review all the facts, debate the issue, and then vote on whether or not to authorize American military action.

"Finally, I again call on the President to reconsider his Administration's ongoing efforts to suspend the entry of refugees fleeing Syria. The United States has a moral obligation to step up and help innocent men, women and children fleeing unimaginable violence and terror.

"It is my hope that the President will work with Congress in order to develop a comprehensive plan of action that will keep our nation safe, better engage our allies in this effort, address this humanitarian crisis, and ideally keep our men and women in uniform from another protracted military intervention in the Middle East."

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