[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 74 (Wednesday, May 11, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E680]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE

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                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 11, 2016

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to challenge this House to live up 
to our Constitutional duty to debate the ongoing war in the Middle 
East.
  For nearly two years, our brave servicemen and women have been 
fighting yet another war.
  As they face snipers and mortar rounds--incredibly some claim that 
they are not in combat.
  How can we claim this is not combat?
  And worse, how can we ask them to go to war when Congress cannot even 
muster the courage to debate it?
  The last four Presidents have bombed the Middle East with little or 
no Congressional oversight; will we allow a fifth President to continue 
these wars unchecked?
  As the NDAA comes to the Floor next week, I submitted an amendment to 
force a debate on this war and repeal the 2001 blank check for endless 
war that got us into this mess.
  The Rules Committee should allow this important debate to come to the 
House Floor.
  Mr. Speaker, let us debate this war, its costs and consequences and a 
real strategy to end ISIL's reign of terror.

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