[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 11, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL TO AUTHORIZE THE LIMITED USE OF THE UNITED STATES 
 ARMED FORCES AGAINST THE ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND THE LEVANT (ISIL)--
                                  PM 5

  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the President of the United States, together with an accompanying 
report; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

To the Congress of the United States:
  The so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) poses a 
threat to the people and stability of Iraq, Syria, and the broader 
Middle East, and to U.S. national security. It threatens American 
personnel and facilities located in the region and is responsible for 
the deaths of U.S. citizens James Foley, Steven Sotloff, Abdul-Rahman 
Peter Kassig, and Kayla Mueller. If left unchecked, ISIL will pose a 
threat beyond the Middle East, including to the United States homeland.
  I have directed a comprehensive and sustained strategy to degrade and 
defeat ISIL. As part of this strategy, U.S. military forces are 
conducting a systematic campaign of airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq and 
Syria. Although existing statutes provide me with the authority I need 
to take these actions, I have repeatedly expressed my commitment to 
working with the Congress to pass a bipartisan authorization for the 
use of military force (AUMF) against ISIL. Consistent with this 
commitment, I am submitting a draft AUMF that would authorize the 
continued use of military force to degrade and defeat ISIL.
  My Administration's draft AUMF would not authorize long-term, large-
scale ground combat operations like those our Nation conducted in Iraq 
and Afghanistan. Local forces, rather than U.S. military forces, should 
be deployed to conduct such operations. The authorization I propose 
would provide the flexibility to conduct ground combat operations in 
other, more limited circumstances, such as rescue operations involving 
U.S. or coalition personnel or the use of special operations forces to 
take military action against ISIL leadership. It would also authorize 
the use of U.S. forces in situations where ground combat operations are 
not expected or intended, such as intelligence collection and sharing, 
missions to enable kinetic strikes, or the provision of operational 
planning and other forms of advice and assistance to partner forces.
  Although my proposed AUMF does not address the 2001 AUMF, I remain 
committed to working with the Congress and the American people to 
refine, and ultimately repeal, the 2001 AUMF. Enacting an AUMF that is 
specific to the threat posed by ISIL could serve as a model for how we 
can work together to tailor the authorities granted by the 2001 AUMF.
  I can think of no better way for the Congress to join me in 
supporting our Nation's security than by enacting this legislation, 
which would show the world we are united in our resolve to counter the 
threat posed by ISIL.
                                                        Barack Obama.  
The White House, February 11, 2015.

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