Congress leaving town without debate again

Untouchable: A US supersonic B-1 Lancer bomber jet stalks the skies in Syria.

On December 11, 2014 Rep. Lois Frankel of Florida asked and was given permission to address the US House of Representatives questioning the Congress’s lack of responsibility in matters of war and peace for 1 minute as members rushed to leave Washington D.C. this holiday recess:

“Mr. Speaker, on August 8 of this year, we went to war with ISIL. Since that day, we have launched over 1,700 airstrikes, we have put thousands of men and women in harm’s way, we have committed billions of dollars, and the President has said this effort will take years.

Many of my colleagues and I have waited patiently for Congress to deliberate on the Authorization for Use of Military Force; yet all of these months later, we have not had a single debate. We recessed this summer without debate. We passed a defense bill last week without debate. And now, once again, we are leaving town without debate.

Mr. Speaker, it is the duty of this Congress to make determinations of war and peace, and we are shamefully ducking this responsibility. America deserves better.”

Source: Congressional Record

Note: Rep. Frankel is a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs –

The House Committee on Foreign Affairs considers legislation that impacts the diplomatic community, which includes the Department of State, the Agency for International Development (USAID), the Peace Corps, the United Nations, and the enforcement of the Arms Export Control Act. For more information on the committee please click here.

Frankel also serves on the subcommittee on Middle East and North Africa

The subcommittee has jurisdiction over the following within the Middle East and North Africa:

Matters affecting the political relations between the United States and other countries and regions, including resolutions or other legislative measures directed to such relations
Legislation with respect to disaster assistance outside the Foreign Assistance Act, boundary issues, and international claims
Legislation with respect to region- or country-specific loans or other financial relations outside the Foreign Assistance Act
Legislation and oversight regarding human rights practices in particular countries
Oversight of regional lending institutions
Oversight of matters related to the regional activities of the United Nations, of its affiliated agencies, and of other multilateral institutions
Identification and development of options for meeting future problems and issues relating to U.S. interests in the region
Oversight of base rights and other facilities access agreements and regional security pacts
Concurrent oversight jurisdiction with respect to matters assigned to the functional subcommittees insofar as they may affect the region
Oversight of foreign assistance activities affecting the region, with the concurrence of the Chairman of the full Committee
Such other matters as the Chairman of the full Committee may determine