Congresswoman Chellie Pingree to Oppose Major Defense Bill

Press Release

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said today that she intends to vote against a major defense bill on the House floor this week that would give any president nearly unlimited power to use military force without Congressional approval.

"This bill essentially allows the use of military force at any time, in any place, against anyone as long as the President claims it's part of the war on terror," Pingree said. "That's too much of a blank check and I'm going to oppose it when the House votes on it this week."

The bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, uses vague language to give any president the authority to use military force against anyone deemed by him to be hostile toward the United States. President Obama has not asked for this new authority.

"We can't afford the wars we have been fighting and now this new authority has the potential of creating an endless war that would put us further in debt," Pingree said. "We need to focus on bringing our troops and the money we spend on war home, not expanding the use of military force."

Pingree said she is also opposing the bill because it provides $15 billion in additional funding for the war in Afghanistan.

"That war in Afghanistan is costing $10 million an hour and has cost the lives of over fifteen hundred American men and women," Pingree said. "That is too high a price for a war that isn't making America any safer."

The defense bill is expected to come to a floor on Wednesday.

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