Southern Arizona Congressman Ron Barber voted with the bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives to pass H.J.Res.124, the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, which included the McKeon Amendment, also known as Authorizing Assisting, Training and Supplying Syrian Opposition.
Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) voted against the measure saying that “wars cannot be rushed. Conflicts cannot be won through cut corners and half-measures. We must be deliberate, and have a clear depiction of our allies and enemies alike.”
H.J.Res.124 ultimately passed the House with a vote of 319-108.
The resolution gives the departments of Defense and State the authority to train and arm vetted moderate Syrian opposition forces to fight the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Barber attended a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Wednesday. At the hearing, Barber, a member of the committee, discussed the need to protect Arizona’s southern border with Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson. “We must work aggressively along with our allies to degrade and defeat the terrorist group ISIL to stop their savage slaughter of innocent civilians and to protect American interests at home and abroad,” Barber said. “I voted to give the Pentagon authority to work with moderate Syrian opposition forces – but this is not an open-ended commitment. As part of this approval, the president will be required to report to Congress on strategies being implemented and their progress.”
As part of the approval, the Pentagon must first submit to Congress a description of the plan for providing assistance, the process used to vet those being trained to fight ISIL, procedures that will be used to monitor U.S.-provided equipment and a description of how the aid fits within a larger regional strategy.
The legislation requires progress reports to Congress within 90 days and every 90 days thereafter.
No additional funding is provided, although the Pentagon is allowed to reallocate existing funds.