Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after voting against H.R. 2740, an appropriations package that, among other things, would dangerously strip legal authority for counterterrorism operations around the globe:

“As the Lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the former Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, I know well the threats to the homeland and the importance of maintaining a strong national defense. I have many concerns with this appropriations package; in particular it would repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF). This vital statute authorizes our armed forces to fight terrorism globally. Repealing it without a replacement would jeopardize our national security, especially when ISIS is reportedly practicing for attacks against the United States and the Intelligence Community has assessed that Al-Qaeda is strengthening its global network. I authored an amendment to repeal the Democrats’ dangerous and reckless language, and they uniformly rejected it without allowing a second of debate on the House floor. I am deeply concerned that liberal and socialist policies are endangering our national security. This must stop.”

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