Mike McCaul

A nuclear Islamic Republic of Iran is not acceptable

I hope that we continue to embrace the very important and critical role of diplomacy, the importance of maintaining guardrails for this democracy.

I join my colleagues in stating that a nuclear Islamic Republic of Iran is unacceptable, and is a direct threat to the United States, Israel, and other allies.

The resolution States that Iran must not be able to obtain a nuclear weapon under any circumstances, and the United States must use all means necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

And that's why I have introduced my bipartisan resolution to State clearly, with no caveats, that it is the policy of the United States that a nuclear Iran is not acceptable.

This is a moment of moral clarity. Hamas has shown us exactly who they are.

Now, as Israel responds in self-defense, the United States stands strongly with our friend and ally as it protects itself from Iran-backed terrorism.

A Government shutdown would be detrimental to the TSA workforce, along with other workforces across the Government, and it would place our transportation systems at risk.

I hope my Republican colleagues will figure out a way to bring the House back to regular order as quickly as possible.

I think we can all agree that CBP has not moved fast enough or we would like it to have moved more.

I'm proud to be working on this issue, which I can work with people like Earl Blumenauer, Ranking, or Chairman Jason Smith, Sherrod Brown, Marco Rubio, et cetera.

Each day that passes without a Speaker brings us 1 day closer to the deadline to fund the Government, which is now less than a month away.

The U.S. must encourage and support these activities in the South China Sea.

Our partners in the region need our help, and our allies are questioning if the U.S. will be there to help.

Congress has to make the decision. Congress is in charge. There is no partnership. We make the decision. We take the vote.

I will not vote for anything that does not put an affirmative obligation in the U.S. Congress to cast a vote to use force. Period.

Article 1 of the Constitution gives Congress alone the authority to declare war, and I believe it is our most solemn power.

I think one of the strengths we see still to this day in things like the D/ISIS coalition is the really the consistency and sustainability of that coalition.

The time to pass repeal and replace of the 2001 AUMF legislation is now long overdue.

We need Congress to reassert its proper authority over the power to declare war under the Constitution.

I do think operations like the 2022 strike against Al Qaeda's leader in 9/11, plotter Ayman al-Zawahiri, should be authorized by Congress.

ISIS-K remains a top concern. ISIS-K continues to pose a threat to our country and remains engaged in global terror.

A repeal-and-replace bill should, however, retain the President's authority to target non-State actors that have the capability and intention to attack our homeland.

The Taliban, for all of their counterproductive and backward policies and what they are doing today, did not warrant a proactive designation by Congress as an organization that the President is authorized to use military force against.

I voted for that authorization. And though I carry the burden of that vote, not for 1 second do I regret it.