Rep. Schiff Statement on Decision to Delay ISIS Authorization Vote Until 2015
Washington, DC –Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), a senior Member of the Intelligence Committee and author of legislation providing a limited and narrow authorization for use of military force against ISIL, released the following statement following the bipartisan lunch at the White House in which it was reported that Speaker Boehner said that Congress should not vote on authorization during the lame duck session, and instead wait until the new Congressional session in 2015:
"Congress should never have recessed prior to the elections while a new war was getting underway, and it must not compound this abdication of its Constitutional duty by failing to take up a war authorization during the lame duck session. I'm deeply disappointed that the Speaker appears determined to defer any real debate over the war until next year. The current military action was initiated weeks ago and during the 113th Congress, it should be approved or disapproved during the same Congress. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, which vests Congress alone with the power to declare war, contains no asterisk or qualification relieving us of our duty before a midterm or when otherwise inconvenient."
Earlier this week, Schiff sent a letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner calling on him to schedule a debate and vote on a new war authorization against ISIS during the lame duck session after the midterm election. In the letter, Schiff wrote: “no president has the power to commit the nation’s sons and daughters to war without authorization from Congress. This is not a decision that can or should wait until 2015; this action was begun during the sitting of the 113th Congress and it is well within our ability to authorize it properly before adjourning.”