Serrano Votes to Leave Afghanistan/Libya

On Thursday, Congressman Serrano supported several amendments to the annual defense authorization bill to limit our overseas military commitments. He voted in favor of an amendment to limit the Authorization for Use of Military Force, which currently gives the President wide latitude to initiate military engagements, an amendment to severely reduce our troop levels in Afghanistan, and an amendment to prohibit ground forces in Libya. All of these were strongly opposed by Republicans and varying numbers of Democrats, and all failed to pass.

"We all know that these are difficult economic times," said Serrano after the vote. "Yet my colleagues continue to oppose any limitation to our ongoing wars. At some point we need to realize that all these foreign military commitments are counterproductive and are far too costly to continue."

The underlying defense bill passed, with Serrano voting against it, and will now go to the Senate for its consideration.