Cummings Releases Statement on Proposed Syria Resolution

Washington, DC—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement about the proposed resolution for the use of military force in Syria:

“I appreciate that the President has chosen to seek congressional authorization for this action, particularly since many Members, like me, have very serious questions about the path ahead that need to be answered in order to make an informed decision.  As we have seen over the past decade, the use of military force is one of the most grave actions our nation can take, and it often has consequences that are impossible to foresee.

“In this case, we must understand in the clearest terms the objective of a strike against Syria.  We must understand how we will achieve that objective, including whether allies will join our efforts, and how long it may take.  We must understand, as best we can, the risk of collateral damage, including civilian deaths.  If our objective is not regime change, we must understand how we will measure success, particularly if civilian deaths using conventional weapons continue or even increase after any U.S. strike.  Finally, if we do not act, we must understand the ramifications for the Assad regime, the Syrian people, and our own nation.

“I commend the President for consulting with Congress on this critical national security issue, and I thank the Administration for the information it has provided to date.  As Congress engages in this debate in the coming days, I believe these are the questions shared by all Americans.”