WASHINGTON, DC—Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), the Committee’s Ranking Member, issued the following joint statement on the President’s request for authorization to use military force against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant:

“As Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, we welcome the President’s transmittal of specific legislative language to authorize the use of military force against ISIL. He should now aggressively make the case to the American people. We intend to conduct an in-depth review of the President’s proposal, including through continued hearings on the Administration’s strategy to combat this barbaric terrorist group. This review will begin with a hearing tomorrow.

“For several months, U.S.-led coalition air strikes have sought to degrade the terrorist threat that ISIL poses to the region. This threat has been growing for too long, jeopardizing key U.S. partners and interests in the Middle East, and inflicting great suffering on the people of Iraq and Syria. All elements of national power must be used to combat ISIL, and the use of military force is but one element of the necessary strategy. We are committed to working with the Administration and our colleagues, as Congress bears a grave responsibility in this matter: ensuring that the Commander-in-Chief has the authority needed to decisively defeat this enemy.”

Note: Information on tomorrow’s hearing is below:

What: Hearing: The Growing Strategic Threat of ISIS

When: 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 12

Where: 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

Witnesses:

TheHonorable James F. Jeffrey

Philip Solondz Distinguished Visiting Fellow

TheWashington Institute for Near East Policy

Dafna H. Rand, Ph.D.

Leon E. Panetta Fellow and Deputy Director of Studies

Center for a New American Security

Rick Brennan, Jr. Ph.D.

Senior Political Scientist

RAND Corporation