Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I think the chairman for yielding. I appreciate it. Mr. Chair, this is something that we do need to get resolved, but I cannot support H.J. Res. 37. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to this resolution, which I could not support as it was pushed through the Foreign Affairs Committee over strong objection from me and my 16 colleagues. The Foreign Affairs Committee has a proud tradition of bipartisanship, but that was thrown out the window with this bill. Among my objections to this bill is the basic premise of the bill, which is flawed. U.S. Forces are not engaged in hostilities between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthi forces in Yemen. This bill distorts the definition of hostilities to cover non-U.S. military operations by third countries. It then reinterprets U.S. activities in support of those countries as U.S. engagement in those hostilities. I have been well documented throughout my time in Congress as opposing the misuse of the War Powers Act. That is really what needs to be addressed: the misapplication of the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs. While I wholeheartedly believe that the U.S. Forces put into combat roles must be approved by Congress, I cannot stand by as those firm beliefs in the Constitution are twisted around to make a political messaging point.…”