Quigley Statement on Arming Syrian Rebels

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) released the following statement after voting to authorize the U.S. Department of Defense, in coordination with the U.S. State Department, to train and equip appropriately vetted elements of the Syrian opposition:

"No vote is taken with more deliberation or gravity than those which involve U.S. military actions abroad. Ultimately, I believe we must address the growing threat posed by the Islamic State and voted with reservations to provide support to Syrian rebels. Importantly, this effort does not commit American boots on the ground, is limited in duration, and provides necessary congressional oversight.

"In the long run, defeating ISIS must involve far more cooperation from our partners in the region and the greater global community. Congress must fulfill its constitutional responsibility to define our long term strategy by replacing our outdated and overly broad military authorization with one that is narrowly tailored to respond to the current threats we face. I hope that congressional leadership will acknowledge this responsibility and allow the full, open and honest debate that is necessary to decide what role America should play in international efforts abroad."