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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 17 april 2018
Senators introduce new war powers resolution

By LISA MASCARO consulting Congress on its
AP Congressional Corre- broader strategy.
spondent "President Trump's action
WASHINGTON (AP) — The still raises the constitutional
chairman and other mem- question of his authority to
bers of the Senate Foreign unilaterally attack another
Relations Committee un- nation without congressio-
veiled a bipartisan resolu- nal authorization," said Sen.
tion Monday authorizing Dick Durbin, D-Ill. "It is time
the use of military force for Congress and the Amer-
overseas, accelerating a ican people to engage in a
debate that Congress has national debate about that
been reluctant to have, authorization to use military
but that's taking on new ur- force in Afghanistan, Iraq,
gency after President Don- Syria and Yemen."
ald Trump's strikes on Syria. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said,
The resolution from Sens. "No President of the United
Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and States, no matter party or
Tim Kaine, D-Va., would re- political ideology, has the
peal the broad authoriza- authority to unilaterally
tions Congress approved in start a war." But it is not at
2001 and 2002 for the wars all clear the new autho-
in Afghanistan and Iraq, re- rization resolution, which
placing them with new au- is expected to focus on
thority to go after specific Rubble lines a street in Douma, the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack, near Damas- military action against non-
"non-state terrorist groups." cus, Syria, Monday, April 16, 2018. state actors like the Islamic
A growing number of critics Associated Press State, al-Qaida and the
say Congress should no lon- Taliban — rather than spe-
ger be using the more than ordered, with coalition strikes that send a message ited response is beyond the cific countries — would find
decade-old resolutions forces, in response to an to the Syrian regime that president's commander- enough support to pass the
as legal underpinnings for alleged chemical weap- such attacks will not go un- in-chief authority because House or Senate.
the fight against extremist ons attack against civilians answered. the U.S. was not facing a Corker said the new mea-
groups such as the Islamic in the Damascus suburb of "It was time to act," Senate direct security risk. sure would give the ad-
State. Douma. Majority Leader Mitch Mc- Mostly, lawmakers have ministration "the flexibility
The new resolution would Congress has so far giving Connell, R-Ky., said Mon- insisted that the Trump to be successful that they
not necessarily provide lopsided backing for the day in support of the Syria administration cannot en- now have, but it also keeps
congressional authoriza- Syria mission. Many law- mission. gage in prolonged or re- Congress in the loop in hav-
tion for the airstrikes Trump makers are supportive of Others say even the lim- peated incursions without ing the ability to stop it."q

Dems ready to back bid for House votes on immigration

By ALAN FRAM pushing the issue. It would port Denham's effort.
Associated Press also give Democrats an op- Denham spokeswoman
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vir- portunity to accuse Repub- Jessica McFaul said he
tually all Democrats are lican leaders of scuttling would not file a petition
poised to join a group of the effort. forcing votes.
Republicans calling for Democrats — and perhaps The Senate killed several
House votes this election even a Republican — seem bills in February aimed at
year on immigration, an ef- likely to go even further protecting from deporta-
fort that seems unlikely to and collect signatures on a tion hundreds of thousands
succeed but would cast discharge petition, a rarely of "Dreamers," immigrants
a campaign-season spot- used procedure that would brought illegally to the
light on an issue Democrats force immigration votes U.S. as children. President
think will help their Election if a majority of lawmak- Donald Trump last year
Day prospects. ers signed it. GOP leaders ended the Deferred Ac-
Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Ca- would be expected to try tion for Childhood Arrivals,
lif., has gathered nearly thwarting that effort by per- or DACA, program estab-
50 GOP co-sponsors on a suading Republicans who lished by President Barack
procedural measure that In this July 23, 2013 file photo, Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., testi- backed Denham's mea- Obama that has been
would permit votes on four fies at a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. sure to not sign the petition. temporarily shielding those
immigration bills. Those bills Associated Press "We owe it to these young immigrants.
would include a conserva- people to keep trying," Trump has turned down
tive package that would said Monday, enough for GOP leaders would not be Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., several attempted com-
limit legal immigration, a a House majority. The aides required to bring the mea- said Monday. Aguilar and promises suggested by
Democratic plan helping spoke on condition of sure to a vote. But it would Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, are Democrats and biparti-
young "Dreamer" immi- anonymity because they give Republicans like Den- co-sponsors of a compro- san lawmakers and has
grants win citizenship and a weren't authorized to pub- ham, an immigration mod- mise immigration bill, and blamed them for the im-
bipartisan compromise. licly discuss the effort. erate with many Hispanic Aguilar was among those passe. Democrats are hop-
Virtually every Democrat Even with most House residents in his district, a gathering signatures of ing to capture House con-
will join Denham, aides members aboard, though, chance to show he's tried Democrats willing to sup- trol this November.q