Washington, D.C. - House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-CA) made the following statement after House passage of his Syria Train and Equip amendment. The amendment was made to the Continuing Resolution, which also passed the House.
“Today a bi-partisan majority of the House agreed to the President’s request for authority to train and equip moderate Syrian opposition forces. This authority would allow those forces to fight ISIL terrorists. The President requested this authority and - after we shaped it to include robust oversight mechanisms- the House gave it to him. I hope the Senate quickly follows suit.
“While we voted to approve the authority in large numbers, none of us believe that this program alone can achieve the President’s objective to 'degrade and destroy' ISIL. A more robust strategy will be required from the President to do that. I hope that, with the support of Congress and the American people, he adopts one."