Brian Jones: “In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that I bring these pictures to the floor of those who give their life for…”

“In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that I bring these pictures to the floor of those who give their life for this country. This is a flag-draped coffin being pulled off a transport plane in Dover, Delaware, and it is time that we meet our obligation and debate this issue of war because we are not doing our job. We owe it to the American people, to the Constitution, and to those who wear the uniform. I thank Mr. McGovern for the time. The Constitution Project, Washington, DC, June 17, 2015. Hon. Jim McGovern, House of Representatives, Hon. Walter Jones, House of Representatives, Hon. Barbara Lee, House of Representatives, Dear Representatives McGovern, Jones and Lee: We write to applaud you for your efforts to compel Congress to exercise its constitutional responsibility to decide on war. For ten months President Obama has prosecuted the war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) under a specious legal claim that Congress authorized it fourteen years ago. Congress has done no such thing. It is high time that Members weighed in. We take no position on grave policy choices about whether to continue to use military force against ISIL, and if so how. But Congress must. The Framers vested the war power in the legislative branch precisely because they believed that young Americans should only be put in harm's way when the people, through their representatives' collective judgment, approved it. We know this is the most difficult issue that Members face.…”