Providing for Further Consideration of H.R. National Defense

Floor Speech

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Mr. MEUSER. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

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Mr. MEUSER. Madam Speaker, U.S. troops are in Syria to fight ISIS pursuant to the 2001 counter-terrorism AUMF. For years, we have worked with partners on the ground to eliminate the deadly and destabilizing threat of ISIS.

This mission in Syria has been extremely successful. The job, however, is nowhere near done. Just this week, our military succeeded in eliminating the leader of ISIS in Syria. This comes after the capture of a top ISIS leader and bombmaker in northwest Syria last month.

According to the U.S. Central Command, ``removal of these ISIS leaders will disrupt the terrorist organization's ability to further plot and carry out attacks.''

Our continued presence on the ground is necessary to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS.

Such a short-sighted amendment would prematurely cut short our presence in Syria. Our force in Syria has been extremely effective and part of a global coalition to defeat ISIS. This is not the time for the U.S. to abandon our allies and partners in Syria. We have seen what occurs when such actions are taken.

None of us want our soldiers, American soldiers, men and women, overseas longer than absolutely necessary. Many of us believe that the AUMF of 2001 must be updated and replaced. But forcing a withdrawal too soon virtually ensures we will have to return.

Such a plan that is outlined in this amendment undermines our military position. We saw it in Iraq when President Obama withdrew, and U.S. troops had to go back in just a few years later to fight ISIS.

We must avoid a similar situation in Syria. Withdrawal should be based on the defeat of ISIS, not on an artificial timeline. For these reasons, I urge opposition to this amendment.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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