Eliot Engel

What is happening in Syria is the greatest humanitarian crisis since World War II.

Let us remember that Assad created the terrorist groups in Syria. He is a magnet for extremism because of the way he acted and treated.

The bill does not call for regime change.

I think many of us knew at that moment 6 years ago that things were about to spiral out of control with respect to what was going on in Syria.

It is a good, commonsense bill, and I am grateful to the chairman for bringing it forward, and I thank Ms. Frankel, as well.

I am also glad to support legislation authored by Chairman Royce, along with Representative Frankel, which would improve efforts to bring traffickers to justice.

We need to push for a political solution that ends the Assad regime's campaign of carnage, removes Assad from power, and helps the Syrian people rebuild.

I am glad to support this measure, and I thank Chairman Chris Smith for all his hard work.

If you are taking the side of the butcher in Damascus over the Syrian people, you are going to get caught up in these sanctions.

Sanctions worked with Iran, and they will work with Syria.

Down the road those guilty of war crimes must face the consequences.

I think he is the only one on this committee that has actually been on this committee longer than me.

It is Assad's murder and torture of civilians that gives that rallying cry and recruitment tool for ISIS.

This bill is a step toward regaining leverage and imposing accountability for Assad's flagrant violations of international norms and human decency.

At some point or another, every one of us is going to use a medical device without even realizing it.

It is important, of course, that we assure medical devices are effective, safe, and readily accessible to those who need them.

There is no reason to not be critical of what is happening with the current administration just because the administration didn't do what should have been done.

I think there is no doubt in my mind, and in everybody else's mind, that Assad is really the butcher of Syria.

We have learned for many, many years, giving any administration a blank check to create war is not something that this Congress should do.

I would agree with the concern about allies. I would also add the concern about the Syrian people, who are left confused about what is the new shift in U.S. policy toward intervention.

I think it is very important that the President tell the Congress what his plans are in Syria and then the Congress needs to give him authorization to make any kind of military moves.

I think we made a terrible mistake when we didn't aid the Free Syrian Army 4 years ago.

The President must come to Congress if the Syria strategy includes military involvement.

There must be no further American military action in Syria without congressional say-so.

Only a political transition, one that removes Assad from power, will put the Syrian people on the path toward rebuilding.