I'm hopeful that this bill will pass the Senate and ultimately be signed into law, as it provides the Department and the intelligence community the needed tools and authorities.

I would strongly urge you to please take a look at that legislation.

I think it is a forever war, and I worry about deeply about handing the power over to presidents to do this without the feel--the need to come to Congress at all.

The United States has relied for too long on military force as the first response to the problems of terrorism, insurgency, and instability abroad.

The Constitution was very clear. We were supposed to initiate war.

It is clear that Congress is united in the strong support of the fight against al-Qaeda, the Taliban, ISIS, and other terrorist groups.

I think there needs to be more public discussion and light on these activities because I do not think the American people want the United States conducting a global endless shadow war under the radar, covert, and beyond scrutiny.

You do not doubt the will of Congress to battle non-state terrorist groups, do you, Secretary?

I hope that our witnesses can help us examine what the appropriate oversight role for Congress is.

President Trump has even threatened the use of military options in response to the crisis in Venezuela.

It is important for Congress to better exercise its oversight over the use of force now.

it is time for Congress to have a public debate and vote about an authorization for U.S. military action against non-state terrorist groups.

The question of this hearing is whether we can be in an endless war with no congressional vote against newly-formed terrorist groups all over the world forever.

The U.S. military is currently taking direct action against the following individuals and groups under the authority of the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF): al-Qaeda; the Taliban; certain other terrorist or insurgent…

We should resist when the administration... tells us they have... preemptive war anywhere, any time.

But the only way we will ever change that is if we as a body stand up and say enough is enough, we are going to reassert the power of the Senate and the power of Congress to determine these things.

I have a hard time understanding the opposition to the resolution as anything other than we do not want congressional oversight.

The legislation would arbitrarily terminate the authorization 5 years after date of enactment.