Iraq consumes Congress; Hezbollah sanctions get a vote
A look at the Middle East issues Congress will be addressing the week of June 23.
President Barack Obama’s intention to send up to 300 additional military advisers to Iraq received initial bipartisan support, even as some Republicans continue to call for immediate strikes.
As US Secretary of State John Kerry heads to the region to deal with the crisis in Iraq, Congress so far is giving the president a wide berth to act as he sees fit, although lawmakers — especially Democrats — are putting the White House on notice that they won’t agree to a military escalation.
The House beat back late Thursday night two amendments from Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., to the fiscal year 2015 Defense appropriations bill that would have cut off funding for combat operations in Iraq and repealed the 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force in Iraq.
And Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., on June 20 ruled out airstrikes unless the Iraqis can present a unified, cross-sectarian request.
