WASHINGTON — The US House will take up a measure that would provide a legal foundation for the fight against the Islamic State group by the spring, says Speaker John Boehner.
In his penultimate State of the Union address Tuesday evening, President Barack Obama again urged Congress to pass an authorization of the use of military force (AUMF) for ongoing US military operations in Iraq and Syria.
Just over 12 hours later, Boehner told reporters he "would expect the president's going to send an authorization to the Congress." For the latest national security news from Capitol Hill, go to CongressWatch"I expect that we will have hearings on that, and that we will, in fact, have a debate and a vote on it," the Ohio Republican said. "The timing,: yet to be determined."
Asked if a floor vote would occur by the spring, Boehner replied:, "Surely."
Lawmakers involved in passing a new AUMF, including Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., say Obama should draft one and send it to Capitol Hill.
From there, lawmakers would hold hearings and mark-ups to make changes ahead of floor votes and a potential House-Senate conference committee.
Corker told reporters recently that he is in talks with White House and Pentagon officials — including Obama's hand-picked Islamic State group war coordinator, retired Marine Corps Gen. John Allen — about the contents of a new AUMF.
Email: jbennett@defensenews.com.
Twitter: @bennettjohnt
