U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has explained her decision to support a procedural motion regarding Senate Joint Resolution 83. The resolution concerns ending military actions against transnational criminal organizations that have recently been designated as foreign terrorist organizations, unless Congress explicitly approves such actions.
“Last night, I voted to support a motion to discharge from committee a resolution that would terminate military hostilities against transnational criminal organizations newly designated as foreign terrorist organizations without the express approval of Congress. To be clear, this resolution does nothing to hold back the United States from defending itself against an armed attack or imminent threat,” Murkowski stated.
She said she was briefed by the administration but found the briefing incomplete. “I was briefed by the administration just this afternoon, but aspects of the briefing were lacking—including a failure to provide the opinion from the Office of Legal Counsel being used as justification for these actions. While I commend the administration’s concerted efforts to address the devastation of drug trafficking on communities across the country, I do not believe the information I have received justifies this interpretation of the President’s Article II powers,” Murkowski said.
Murkowski also emphasized Congress’s constitutional role in matters of war. “I take very seriously my Article I responsibility when it comes to Congress’s power to declare war. I don’t think that full information on the legal and factual justification for armed attacks on suspected drug traffickers is too much to ask.”
She added that allowing debate on the Senate floor would have given more time for information gathering. “Allowing this resolution to come to the Senate floor would have provided the administration with ample time to furnish Congress with additional information. I would have used that information to make a final decision on how to vote on the underlying resolution.”
