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Overseas Conflict
Eastern North Carolina is home to several military installations, and conflicts overseas affect all of us.
Where I Stand
Our Constitution, a document I have sworn to protect and defend, explicitly states that our nation does not go to war without congressional approval. I believe in our Constitution, and I will continue the fight to prevent the president from waging war unilaterally. I took the president to federal court because he violated the Constitution and the War Powers Clause by going to war against the Libyan regime without authorization from the U. S. Congress. I have introduced legislation expressing the sense of Congress that it is an impeachable offense for any president to wage offensive war without prior Congressional approval. I will continue the fight to reign in the executive branch and restore power to the citizens of our nation.
The Fight Against ISIL:
There is no question that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is an evil group, but the rule of law as articulated in the Constitution of the United States must stand with regard to war. For over a year now, President Obama has been conducting airstrikes in Iraq and Syria without the consent of Congress, and therefore without the consent of the American people. If we are going to war against ISIL, Congress must authorize that war. But first, we must be able to have a full debate over whether the cost of such a war is something the United States wants to commit to. I have been urging the Speaker of the House to bring this issue up for a debate since President Obama started the airstrikes against ISIL last year, and I will continue to do so until he addresses the issue.
Afghanistan
President Obama's decision to keep our troops in Afghanistan through the Bilateral Security Agreement for at least nine more years is the wrong policy for the United States. We have accomplished our original goals to bring Osama Bin Laden to justice and to break up the Al Qaeda network. Bin Laden is now dead and Al Qaeda has been dispersed. Our continued presence in Afghanistan is not in the best interest of our nation.
American taxpayers have spent over $685 billion in Afghanistan, while our roads and bridges in the United States are falling apart. Much of the money we borrow from China and Russia. America is sending that borrowed money overseas to prop up a corrupt leader in Afghanistan, who routinely pays off Taliban warlords with American cash. At a time when our nation is already over $18 trillion in debt, we simply cannot afford a wasteful, expensive effort in Afghanistan.
Legislative Action in the 114th Congress
On February 6, 2015, in anticipation of President Obama sending an AUMF request to Congress, Congressman Jones sent a letter to Speaker Boehner urging him to schedule a full debate on the president's AUMF request.
On February 23, 2015, Congressman Jones led a coalition urging Speaker Boehner to follow regular order on President Obama's AUMF request so that the House could make changes to it and have an open debate and a vote on it.
On May 26, 2015, Congressman Jones sent a letter to Speaker Boehner asking him to take action on the existing AUMF request that President Obama had sent to Congress in February.
Cosponsored Legislation
H.R. 560 - Would amends the War Powers Resolution to direct the President in every possible instance to submit to Congress before introducing U.S. Armed Forces into hostilities or situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated a written report setting forth the estimated scope and duration of the hostilities or involvement.
H. Con. Res. 55 - Would direct the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces deployed to Iraq or Syria on or after August 7, 2015, other than Armed Forces required to protect U.S. diplomatic facilities and personnel, from Iraq and Syria: (1) no later than 30 days after this concurrent resolution is adopted; or (2) if the President determines that it is not safe to remove the Armed Forces before that date, then no later than December 31, 2015, or such earlier date as the President determines that the Armed Forces can safely be removed.