Slotkin, Hurd, Spanberger, Bacon Lead Bipartisan Resolution To Reaffirm Support for Allies, Partners in Fight Against ISIS

Statement

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) alongside Reps. Will Hurd (R-TX), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Don Bacon (R-NE) led a group of bipartisan members to introduce a resolution recognizing the critical contributions of counter-ISIS coalition partners, their value to countering current and future threats, and reaffirming Congress' commitment to defeating ISIS.

As Counter-ISIS coalition members assemble today in Washington D.C. for an emergency ministerial to discuss the future of the Counter-ISIS mission, following President Trump's decision to pull U.S. forces out of northern Syria, the House resolution sends a signal of gratitude and support to counter-ISIS coalition partners and reaffirms Congressional commitment to global partnerships ---- not only for the counter-ISIS fight ---- but also to counter emerging and future threats.

Slotkin, a former CIA officer who served three tours in Iraq and served as a senior Pentagon official, helped to form the international Counter-ISIS coalition after the terrorist group took over large parts of Iraq in 2014. As an acting Assistant Secretary of Defense, Slotkin established and routinely convened counter-ISIS coalition defense policy coordination meetings. She also recently returned from a bipartisan Congressional delegation with the House Armed Services Committee to Turkey and Iraq, the first delegation to visit the region following President Trump's decision to withdraw troops from northern Syria, and Turkey's subsequent advance into the region and attack on Kurdish forces.

"Five years ago, over 60 international partners joined the United States in common cause: denying ISIS its self-proclaimed caliphate in Iraq and Syria and preventing ISIS from threatening our citizens and countries," Rep. Elissa Slotkin said. "The member nations of the Counter-ISIS coalition shook our hands in partnership and have fought alongside the United States since, on a shared objective: the enduring defeat of ISIS. I was proud to help build the Coalition in my prior role at the Pentagon."

"Our coalition partners have brought critical tools to the Counter-ISIS fight, including providing battlefield intelligence, overhead imagery, air-to-air refueling, and training of partner forces on the front lines," Rep. Slotkin continued. "And for every Coalition soldier, sailor or airmen, there was one fewer American risking their lives in the fight. I am therefore proud to introduce this bipartisan resolution today, as Counter-ISIS coalition members are meeting in Washington, in recognition of the invaluable role that Coalition partners have played over the past five years -- and to recognize that such partnerships will be critical in combatting threats into the future."

"For America to remain the greatest nation in the world we have to make sure our friends trust us and enemies fear us," said former CIA officer Rep. Will Hurd. "Since 2014 the United States and our allies in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS have fought to end the caliphate and degrade the threat of terrorism to our homeland. Five years later, ISIS is beaten but not broken. They remain a threat that requires continued engagement by the U.S. and our partners, which is why I am proud to join this bipartisan effort to ensure we remain committed to working with our counter-ISIS partners today and in the future."

"As the fight against ISIS enters a new phase, Congress must recognize the critical role of our partners in containing this global threat, and we must strengthen our commitment to countering the violent extremism proliferated by ISIS. The nations and international organizations of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS have fought and died alongside U.S. servicemembers, trained local forces, and provided critical humanitarian support," Rep. Abigail Spanberger said. "I am proud to co-lead this resolution--introduced by Democrats and Republicans--which makes clear that we are committed to supporting the counter-ISIS efforts of local partner forces and our global allies. As a former CIA case officer, I recognize the critical importance of allies on the ground who can address the root causes of extremism and prevent future acts of terror. I look forward to advancing this bipartisan resolution, because our communities are made safer through longstanding alliances with our trusted partners in the Middle East and around the world."

"Our network of alliances and international partnership are one of America's most important sources of strength," said Rep. Don Bacon, a retired Air Force Brigadier General and member of the House Armed Services Committee. "The U.S-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS remains one of the most successful parts of America's national security strategy and the global campaign to counter violent extremism."

This fall marks five years since the beginning of the counter-ISIS campaign and since Secretary Kerry convened the first Counter-ISIS ministerial with over 60 international partners. In March 2017, Secretary Tillerson convened the Counter-ISIS coalition to review the coalition strategy and affirm the United States' and coalition members' commitment to accelerating the Counter-ISIS campaign. Without a doubt, coalition partners have fulfilled critical requirements in the Counter-ISIS fight over the past five years of the campaign. The burden of fighting ISIS on and off the battlefield has been shared by partner nations who recognize the common nature of the threat. These partners remain critical to countering ISIS today, and importantly, to countering global threats in the future.

The resolution:

Recognizes the commitment of partner nations and institutions that have participated in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS;

Recognizes the many critical contributions that Global Coalition partners have made in support of our shared mission to defeat ISIS;

Reaffirms the enduring commitment of the United States to the lasting defeat of ISIS;

Recognizes that robust alliances and partnerships require many years to develop and, if neglected, may not be easily rebuilt in moments of crisis; and

Affirms that robust alliances and partnerships will remain critical to defeating emerging and future threats.

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