Washington, D.C. – Rep. David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-WV) issued the following statement on the House passing a short-term continuing resolution (H.J. Res. 124) and authority to equip and train opposition groups in Syria: "On a bipartisan basis (319-108), the House voted to keep the government open and combat terrorism. With this vote, we are placing our trust in our Commander-in-Chief and his top military advisors to carry out the plan within the resolution to assist, equip and train our partners in the Middle East to combat ISIL along with a coalition of 30 nations, including countries in the region.

"This decision was not taken lightly and many of us share the concerns voiced about training and equipping moderate forces fighting in Syria. At the same time, we are not giving the President the blank check authority that he originally requested; we are providing a more limited authority to train soldiers to fight back against ISIL under close oversight. The amendment to the resolution does NOT authorize any additional funds and does NOT put troops on the ground in Syria. If the President wants further action, he will have to come to Congress for another vote.

"It comes down to either doing nothing to stop ongoing terrorism from ISIL and thereby allowing them to slaughter innocent people who don't follow their radical ideology or standing together with others in the global community against the imminent threat. Again, this does not call for additional funding or boots on the ground.

"Just as there are 535 Members of Congress, there are likely 535 alternative plans. But the strategy of warfare is best planned by military leaders not politicians. This is a plan, worked out between the President and Congress, to train those in the region to fight a common enemy. How many more beheadings and further slaughter of civilians should the world community tolerate?

"The underlying bipartisan resolution will keep the government open and gives Congress time to complete essential work on full-year, line-by-line Appropriations for fiscal year 2015. Included in this resolution is funding to fight the Ebola epidemic, improve veterans care, increase border security and support counter-drug programs.

"The House wants continue government operations or keep extremists away from our shores; the House showed leadership tonight and did its job in a bipartisan way. The Senate needs to do the same."