WILMINGTON,DE — Congressman John Carney today released the following statement explaining his vote in favor of the amendment authorizing the training and arming of rebels to defeat ISIS:

“Today I supported the President’s request to give him the authority to provide training and support to rebel groups fighting to defeat ISIS. I cast this vote with serious reservations, and only after much deliberation. We know that ISIS is a brutal, vicious enemy. And I have concluded that the threat that ISIS poses to Americans at home and abroad is so serious that it requires action on our part to destroy them.

That said, I believe the proposal the House passed today is the best of a host of bad options. I am concerned that we may be unable to identify reliable partners to do the necessary work on the ground. I am concerned about mission creep. And I am concerned that these new authorities will put American resources on the line while still being insufficient to accomplish the task of destroying ISIS.

As the campaign against ISIS progresses, Congress has a responsibility to change course if any of these consequences result. Today’s amendment grants only short-term authorities to the Administration, and over these next three months, we have an obligation to hold the Administration accountable for using these authorities responsibly and as Congress intended.”

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